𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖔𝖈𝖐 𝕻𝖎𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖊

23

"IF THE CAVE is some sort of prison, why aren't there any guards posted to stop us?" Charming asked.

"Because he doesn't need any," Majo told him.

Killian nodded, looking at the entrance, "Echo Cave."

"You know it?" Snow asked.

Killian looked back at the raven-haired Princess, "All too well. I lost half my crew inside those rock walls. The only way to rescue someone from the inside is to reveal a secret."

"A secret? That's all?"

Majo shook her head and looked at the woman. "Your darkest secret. It's from this old saying-'The deeper the lie, the more truth in its echo.' Or something like that. You have to reveal a secret you'd never admit to anybody."

"This is ridiculous. Even if we spill our guts, how do we know Neal's still alive in there?"

Killian looked at the blonde, "Because this is what Pan wants. He wants us to rescue him."

"Why?" Charming asked.

"So that we reveal our secrets. He believes once we do, our secrets will destroy us. 

*****

The group entered the dimly lit cave and found themselves in front of a cliff that was deeper than you could look. On the other side, there was a small stone island with a wooden cage on it.

"Emma?!"  they heard from out of the cage.

Emma gasped, "Neal."

"It must be a hundred feet across." Snow White said.

"Even if we fashioned some sort of rope, there's nothing to attach it to," Charming added. "No way to swing over."

"So what do we do?" Emma asked. 

Killian looked down. "I told you what needs to be done. Consider this the moment of truth, literally." He turned to the group, "Now...Who wants to kick things off?"

"So what, someone tells their secret and they sprout wings?"

"I don't know the particulars, only what Majo could find our by reading her books."

"Well, how do you know it'll work?" Charming asked.

Killian took a deep breath and sighed, "There's only one way to find out, I suppose." He sighed deeply again and closed his eyes for a moment. "I kissed Emma."

Emma rolled her eyes while Majo smirked. Charming turned to the Captain, "You did what?"

"David, now is not the time." Snow told her husband.

"I already told Marry Margaret, so technically it's not a secret. But it was just a kiss. How is that your darkest secret?" Emma asked.

"It's what the kiss exposed. My secret is, I never thought I'd be capable of letting go of my first love- of my Milah- to believe that I could find someone else. That is, until I met you."

There was a rumble and part of a bridge to the other side appeared. 

"Seems like it worked," Majo said and then looked at Killian. "If-When we get out of here I want to find my brother."

"What?" Killian asked softly.

"I love being a Pirate but I haven't seen my brother in hundreds of years and I miss him. He's the only biological family I have left and I want to live with him for a while if he wants to, that is." the floor rumbled again and another part of the bridge appeared.