Once Upon a Time: Ever After High (Book 10)

Ch.34 Moment of truth

Knowing that this was the moment of truth, everyone looked at each other, wondering who was going to start off spilling their darkest secret.

"I guess I'll go first" Chase offered with a sigh as he turned to Darling "Darling, remember yesterday before we fell in the Crocodile's grotto, you noticed that I seemed really nervous?"

"Yeah you told me that you were just worried about our friends" she replied.

"Well there's something else, something that I haven't told you for a while."

He gave another sigh as he nervously rubbed the back of his head, everyone wondering what he was going to say.

"When we started dating, there's been this thought that I can't stop thinking about. You come from a line of Charmings, meaning that you're family is considered 'perfect' and all royalty and things like that, even though you're nothing like that, which is what I like about you. But, there's your parents, who are a bit overboard about wanting what's best for you. They expect you to marry a perfect, brave, prince or knight, and even though I am those things, I just feel like I'm not the kind your parents will accept.

I'm not from a high standard royal family, I'm just a royal from Wonderland. And because of that, I'm afraid that you're parents wont accept me because I'm from an odd land."

Darling stood there with a sad look as he gave another sigh while looking down. But all of a sudden, a rumble was felt as everyone watched as part of a stone passage way started to appear in front of Piper, now everyone knew how it worked.

"Chase-" Darling said in a calm tone "Thank you for telling me that, but there's nothing for you to worry about, if we do break the curse and we see my parents, I'm sure they'll like you. And it doesn't matter whether you're a perfect knight or not-".

She gently touched his arm.

"You're still the same Chase Redford that I know and love."

"Yeah" Terrence agreed "Aidan and I are both glad she found someone like you."

"Really?" Chase questioned astonished as they smiled and nodded as he gave a small smile "Thanks."

"Alright-" Jane spoke up "Who's next?"

Wondering who was going next, everyone continued to look at each other.

"I'll go" Mira offered as she gave a sigh "Ever since you guys found out the truth about me, there's something I never wanted to admit. David, our daughter is a beautiful, smart, amazing young lady who I love very much. But-".

She turned to Elena with a sad look.

"For most of our lives, Elena and I have never gotten along with the whole destiny thing, we've been at each others backs before you all found out the truth. So what I'm trying to say is, Elena is all grown up now, and she grew up without the proper care of a mother's love. And as much as I want to pretend that I'm okay with it, I'm not. You saw it all David, you took care of her, you loved her, and you watched her grow up. But me, I was barely there for any of those, I missed it all, her first word, her first step, her first smile, all I heard were stories of it, but I've never witnessed it."

She then felt her eyes start to water.

"What we have with her is unique-" she sniffed "But not what I wanted. I just wish I can go back to the day she was born, and be the mother that I always wanted to be, and give her the family that we all deserve."

At that point another rumble was felt as another piece of the passage way appeared, they were getting closer. After that, everyone turned to Mira who stood there with sadness in her eyes as Elena went up to her.

"I know what we have wasn't what we all wanted-" she said gloomy "But I love it anyway. And I'm happy to be part of this family."

And with that she embraced Mira into a hug as David joined in. Even though their family wasn't what they expected, they were still a family, and they all loved each other.

"I think one more will do it" Jane suggested "So who's going next?"

She then turned to Aidan and gave him a 'do it' look. Knowing this was his only chance to spill his guts, he gave a deep sigh as he raised his hand.

"I'll go" he offered he felt his heart pound with nervousness "Um, when Jane announced that we were going to get water, we weren't, we were looking for a cure."

At that point Darling knew what was going on.

"A cure for what?" she demanded.

He gave a sad sigh "Dreamshade"

Everyone's jaw dropped and their eyes widen.

"I knew it" Darling scowled "The pirate's arrow got you, and you pushed me out of it, you pushed us all out of it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Terrence demanded "If you were dying we could of helped you."

"I didn't think it was that bad before" Aidan sighed "But then Jane found out and she cured me. I really wanted to tell all of you, but it was already too late when Jane found out."

"You could of still told us" Darling frowned "But you didn't, and I'm really disappointed in you."

With his heart full of guilt, Aidan looked down ashamed when the last piece of the passage way appeared. Now with the ability to cross, Jane ran down the passage and was able to make it to Piper.

"Let's get ye out of here" she declared as she tried to use her hook to pick the lock, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't unlock.

"Jane" Piper suddenly spoke up with a small sigh "It's not gonna work, I think you know what needs to be done."

Jane gave an astonished look when she realized what he meant.

"Ye mean-?" she gasped.

"You're next" he shrugged.