A/N: I do not own OUAT or their amazing characters. I have no beta, so any mistakes are my own, I do my best to edit them out. Enjoy! – BS

Chapter 6

They made their way up to the cliff face a little before nightfall. There was a harbor a little way out, so they would have to take the dinghy in with the jagged rocks underneath. Hope looked over the side of the ship at the cliff face staring back at her. They had decided to sleep on the ship and start their way in first thing in the morning. Henry came and stood next to her, a platter of meat and cheese in tow. They ate in silence, staring at the cliffs and the sea they had to cross.

"They look like the cliffs of Insanity." Hope thought aloud, munching on a cheese slice.

"Did you seriously just make a Princess Bride comparison?" Henry mused

"Yeah point being? That's what it looks like!"

Henry chuckled. "You nerd. Mom loves that movie too."

Hope looked at her brother, "Really?"

"Yup. Did I tell you about Neverland?"

"You told me about you being kidnapped by Pan but that's about it."

"Oh. Well on the island, Mom and Dad shared a kiss that awoke his feelings for her. She told him it was a one-time thing and told him not to follow and to wait 5 minutes."

"What did he say?"

"As you wish."

She cracked a smile, "So much for it being a one-time thing."

"Yeah, you're living proof it wasn't."

"Ew!" Hope punched her brother in the arm. "I do not want to think about that. That nasty!"

Henry laughed and grabbed the tray. "We need to get to bed. We have a really long day ahead of us. Goodnight Hopie."

"Night Brother bear."

Henry smiled and descended to the crew bunks. Hope looked up at the stars for a few moments and found Polaris. She hadn't prayed in a long time, but she had to talk to someone. She was part pirate, she could do this.

"Poseidon or Neptune or God or whoever is listening," She began, "Listen I'm not good at this but I needed to talk to someone. In the last three days I have found out I have a brother, that I am the daughter of a pirate and a princess, I am royalty, I am in a different realm, my brother thinks I'm magical and Little Red Riding hood and the mad hatter are watching my dog. I'm starting to believe everything but the magic crap" She took a deep breath, "I am so terrified this is all a dream, A really good dream. I found the beginnings of my family and were supposed to rescue my father tomorrow… and I am so scared. What if he hates me? What if I'm a disappointment? What if I'm not enough? Like I haven't been for every person I met prior to this week… I just want him to be proud. So, if one of you Gods is listening, could you tell him to hold on just a little bit longer? I will never forgive him if he gives in before I meet him... Again." Hope looked up and smiled, then headed to the Captains quarters.

The man chained to the wall let his head hang down.

You failed, the voice said, you left her behind and lost your princess. How could they have ever loved you? You failed them, as you failed Milah. Stupid, stupid, Pirate.

The man lifted his head up letting it gently hit the wall, feeling more lacerations come to his body from an unknown source. He gritted his teeth together through the pain. All he can see is leaving behind a little girl, Emma being ripped from his arms by clouds of black. The images flashes to Emma clawing to him promising to find him, asking to hold on. The heartache is too much for him to bear. The man lets out an anguished wail, the voice laughed darkly.

You aren't worth it pirate. Give in. They will never find you... It's time to give up hope.

Hope. The word does something to the man, and for the first time in 20 years, he cracks a tiny smile.

The sun rays blaze in and land on Hope's face. She opens one eye and grumbles to get out of bed. Remembering her talk with the stars last night, she mentally starts preparing herself, seeing her father for the first time in her adult life. After clicking her cutlass to her belt and straightening her white shirt and jacket, the last thing she put on is the ring of her father's. Stopping at the desk she opens it and sticks a dagger in each boot. She grabs the satchel and heads out the door.

Henry is waiting on deck ready to go, sword in place and map in hand. He is studying it carefully when Hope ascends the stairs, munching on a roll. He faces his sister and tosses an apple her way.

"Is it poisoned?" Hope asks, amused.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny, you are thinking of my adopted mom, not me. And it was a sleeping curse, not poison."

"Neither sounds fun." Hope said as she bites into the apple. Mouth full she gives Henry a thumbs up and he laughs at his sister being, well his sister.

He wasn't going to tell her that he overheard her prayer or whatever conversation she had with the stars last night. His heart clenched when she spoke of not thinking she was enough. Had her life really been that similar to Emma's? Must fate be so cruel that it would subject them both to that pain? None of it seemed fair. He hoped that him, and Killian could show her that she was worth so much more.

"So, what's the plan?" Hope asked, breaking Henry of his thoughts.

"The entrance to the cavern is through the top of the cliffside. We will have to climb to the top and drop down. There is an exit, and only an exit through a door at the coast line, but it has to be opened by one of Royal blood."

"So, either one of us?"

"Exactly. I also suspect none of our other family members are here, because if they were they could waltz out."

Hope nodded. "So, what's the talisman?"

Henry opened his satchel, and in the bottom was a glint of a silver hook.

"He gave it to me before the curse hit."

"Makes sense, you ready?"

"Yup. Operation Rescue Hook is a go."

The dinghy bounced and bobbed on the waves, making the sibling duo hold on for dear life. Henry rowed as Hope navigated around the jagged edges of the rocks, a few almost puncturing the boat a few times, but Hope was able to get them through it. She was definitely her father's daughter, because only he could have gotten them through that. When they reached the shore, Henry jumped out and pulled the dinghy to shore, tying it off. Hope jumped out and stood next to her brother, staring up the rock face.

"Shit." She breathed.

"Yup. Let's do this."

And so, they started to climb. Hope used the rock wall at the gym a lot and finding handholds was easier than expected. They helped each other, swinging the other from one ledge to another and making sure the other didn't fall. Three hours later they reached the top, hands bloody, arms and legs exhausted, Both Henry and Hope collapsed on the ground at the edge of the ledge, panting and drinking water out of their waterskins.

"If ever have to climb that I again I'll kill you." Hope said, still staring at the sky.

"If we ever have to climb that again I'll kill me." Henry replied, still out of breath.

The pair got to their feet, finding the entrance to the cavern. It was an 80 foot drop down into pure pitch black. Henry tied the rope to a tree and tied the other end Hope's waist.

"OK I am going to lower you down, when you get to the bottom, tug and I will come down, Ok?

Hope nodded, feeling scared rather shitless at the moment.

Henry started to lower her down, inch by inch. The blackness started to engulf her, after what seemed like forever she tugged at the rope. Hope watched the rope go taught and Henry started to climb down. She was messing with the scarf wrapped around her hand. She cut it climbing and wrapped it mid ledge to protect it. It would need cleaning out when they got back to the ship, which would mean pouring rum on it. Henry landed on the cavern floor next to with a thud. She looked over to him and he motioned to her that they needed silence. Hope nodded, following her brother into the black.

The cavern had a series of tunnels underneath. They navigated seamlessly, Hope stepping where Henry stepped as he followed his map. The tunnels had torches lining the walls, showing the skeletons that laid, strewn across their path. It was a good thing neither one of the was squeamish. Cries of anguish and pain filled the emptiness surrounding them. It sounded like hundreds of people, all living their own personal hell.

"Henry," Hope whispered loudly, "We have to help. People are suffering."

"I know, but until the curse is broken, there's nothing we can do."

Hope nodded, taking his hand. She didn't like this at all.

They rounded into another tunnel, and the air turned deathly cold. Hope released her brother and moved her hand to grip he cutlass. There was something moving in the darkness ahead creeping toward them. Henry stopped in front of her and grabbed his sword.

"Run!" He whispered sharply.

Hope took off, right on his heels and screeching filled the empty darkness. The army of the undead surrounded them, corpses of rotting flesh chasing them. The undead were clawing at her legs and jacket, attempting to pull her down. Hope swung her cutlass, slicing them off her, and away from the satchel. The undead members screeched as they hit the ground one by one. Her and Henry got some distance, but the army was closing in. The duo came across a large hole, and the undead were circling them, there was no escape. They were trapped.

"Hope we need to jump!" Henry yelled, dragging her to the opening in the ground.

"Are you nuts?! We don't even know where it leads!" Hope was pulling back.

"If we stay here we will die! Take a leap of faith."

Hopes eyes started to burn with tears, but her brother was right. She nodded grabbing his hand as they jumped she shut her eyes tight. All she could feel was air underneath her until there was a splash. It was about a 6-foot drop from the opening in the tunnel to the underwater lake in the cavern. Hope opened her eyes and swan to the top of the water, Henry by her side. They started to swim as members of the undead tried to follow, dissolving as they hit the water. They swan slower, catching their breath from running. Suddenly, the current changed pulling them to a narrow them to a shallow stream. Hope clutched her satchel to her chest and they rode the current down. It was like a bad water ride at an amusement park, the current dragging every which way, full of sharp jagged edges. The water burned her eyes as forced to keep them open, keeping her eyes on Henry. The current shot them out into a large waterfall and they landed in the pool below with a large splash. Hope looked around and felt for the bottom of the pool with her feet. She stood in the water slowly, her head barely above water.

"Henry!" She screamed. There was no answer. Panic started to rise in her chest. "Henry!"

"Over here! Keep swimming forward!"

Henry was on the stone shore of the pool, sprawled out trying to catch his breath. Hope crawled up to on the stone collapsing down. She turned her head to cough, spitting up water. Slowly rising to her hands and knees, she rolled onto her butt, legs stretched out as she reached for her satchel. Hope wanted to check the book and assess the damage. As she removed the book from the bag slowly, she was surprised to find that it did have any damage at all, it was like the water just rolled off the pages.

"What the hell?" Hope wondered aloud.

"It's a magical object. It has crossed realms, so a little water won't hurt it." Henry answered, his breathing finally normal.

"Of course, it is" she mumbled. Hope placed the book back in her bag and turned to face her brother. "Well that was fun. Great idea jumping down a hole."

Henry chuckled, as he rose to his feet. "Hey, what can I say I needed a swim. You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm good, are you?" She answered standing.

"A little water logged, but I'll live."

"I would say drowned rat." Hope let out a small laugh. She slung her hair to the side, wringing in out her hair. Pulling it all to one side, she braided it into a side braid.

"Hair change?" Henry questioned.

"Trust me you don't want to see the poof when it dries on its own." Hope said, slinging the satchel over her torso.

"Fair enough. Ready to keep going?"

"Let's go."

The duo followed the cavern to a staircase winding downward, little conversation between them. The silence was comfortable, both acknowledging they had a job to do. Screams of agony and anguish grew louder as they got closer, actual words now understandable. They had to be getting close, where else could he be?

As they rounded another corner, People were shackled against the wall, bruised and bloody. Hope clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream threatening to escape. These people, these poor people have been suffering for two decades, waiting on her. This wasn't fair to them.

"Henry..." She whimpered, fighting the lump her throat.

Henry grabbed her hand, "I know, try not to look. We look like Yzma's henchmen to them. Whatever moments she has playing is all they see. Just look at me, ok?"

Hope nodded, squeezing the life out of his hand kept following. The screams as they passed were getting too much for her to handle. She started to hum a tune she knew, trying to drown the noise.

"What are you humming?" Henry asked, looking down at his sister.

"I don't know, just a tune I know. It keeps me calm." Hope said, finally releasing Henry's hand.

"It's a sea shanty. Killian used to sing it to you."

Hope smiled at her brother, "Well maybe it'll help us find him faster cause I'm sick of walking."

Henry shook his head and playful nudged her forward, "You and me both Hopie,"

About thirty minutes and up another staircase later, they found a lone man chained to wall, with no one else around him except two guards. The man had dark brown hair and was dressed in black pirate garb. His head was down, his body slack so his eyes weren't visible but Hope just knew, she knew deep in her gut that it was him. Henry and Hope crouched behind a large rock about twenty feet away, staying out of sight.

"Henry..." Hope said barley above a whisper.

"Yeah Hope, that's him." Henry answered.

Her heart caught in her throat. They needed to do something, anything. "What do we do?"

"The guards have the key to his shackles," He said voice low. "If we stay in the shadows and sneak around each side, we can knock out each guard with a rock. You up for it?"

Hope nodded, eyeing the large rocks next to them. It had been long enough, she was ready to see her father.

Henry and Hope both grabbed a large rock in hand, and with a silent nod, the started in the perspective directions, Henry went to the left, Hope went to the right, sticking to the shadows. The siblings made eye contact from across the cavern. Hope studied Henry, waiting for the signal. The guards were talking with one another in a language she didn't recognize. The guards turned so they were talking profile, one had their back to Henry the other had their back to Hope. This was it. Henry nodded at Hope and they both moved to the guards, smashing their rocks against their skulls as hard as they could. The guards dropped, hitting the ground like sacks of potatoes. Hope grabbed the keys off the guard closest to her and handed them to Henry. Henry went to move forward to Killian but Hope hesitated.

"Hope what's wrong?" Henry looked at his sister, confusion on his face.

"Henry… I can't do this. What if I'm not everything He expected me to be." Hope said, sobs escaping her, no matter how hard she was fighting them.

Henry moved to his sister and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Hope Elizabeth you listen to me, I don't know who hurt you or who made you feel like you weren't enough, but they were wrong. No matter who you are, what you have done, he will love you; I promise."

Hope looked up at her brother, realization hitting her like cold water, "You heard me last night, didn't you?"

Henry nodded. "I did. I won't push you to talk about it, you have walls just like Mom did. But I want you to know that you have a family now, and we will never leave you again."

Hope embraced her brother, tightly. She couldn't believe this amazing and compassionate person was her big brother. Family was still a foreign concept to her; but if everyone was like this she could get used to it. Henry gave her one final squeeze and pulled away looking at her.

"Ready to meet your dad again?" He said with a smile.

Hope wiped her face off and nodded at her brother with a smile. She followed him as they approached Killian slowly, unsure of how he would react.

"Dad," Henry said, reaching toward him slowly. "Killian, its Henry."

Killian's head shot up, and Hope was staring a bright blue and dark unruly hair that mirrored her own. Oh yeah, this was definitely her dad.

"Henry? Henry is gone, Emma is gone, Hope is gone. Stop trying to trick me witch!" the voice rasped out.

Hope couldn't believe it. It was the same voice that came in her head when she was first working with her cutlass.

Henry stood in front of him taking a deep breath, "It's not a trick, I'm here. Hope is here."

Killian started to flail frantically and screamed. "No, NO! My family is gone, I failed them! I FAILED, JUST LIKE I FAILED MILAH! I FAILED!"

They had to act, and they had to act now.

"Hope get his hook! The curse is pulling him under!" Henry shouted as he moved his hands to Killian's shoulders trying to steady him so he didn't injure himself.

Hope reached in Henry's satchel and grabbed the hook from it. She ran to his left arm where the brace was and lined the hook up, trying not to hurt herself or her father in the process. The hook slid in and she turned it like a key, locking it into place and stepped back. Hope and Henry watched but nothing happened. Killian started flailing harder, screaming out in anguish.

"Gods, take me now! I failed them, Emma forgive me! I failed!"

Henry was holding on to him as hard as he could. "It wasn't strong enough! Yzma is going to kill him!" He screamed over top Killian. "Hope what else do we have?"

Hope watched in horror as her father convulsed. She absentmindedly grabbed his ring. What could they do? She thought. He was so close, and she was going to lose him again. No, it couldn't end this way, not when they were this close.

"HOPE!" Henry screamed, breaking her of her thoughts. "The ring!"

Hope looked around her neck. Without a hesitant thought she removed it over her head and stepped to her father and placed the chain over his neck. Killian's convulsions slowed, and his body went slack again. The siblings stepped back, and they waited, and watched.

A boot hit the ground with a large thud, followed by the other. He stood slowly, using the wall for support, breathing deeply as he went. Finally, his head came up and rested on the wall. Killian looked up and locked eyes with Henry. A smile crack along his face.

"Hello my boy."