The pair shared a longing glance as they took in this new information, not expecting Neverlands story to be of love lost left them feeling anguished.
"It's a tragic tale, that doesn't even give us a clue as to where to go next".
"It just might require further analysis".
"We have to find out why the island changed".
"It's as if the magic itself, dried up".
"The only thing that's clear from these stories, they used and abused this place, until there was nothing left".
"In these final pieces few are escaping without the treasure, but I don't know how".
Emma frowned frustrated inspecting the mural closely, while Captain Hook continued to gaze hopelessly at the image of the dead lovers. Emma was desperate to figure out how to leave Neverland, noticing that when they were about to make their escape, they all looked upwards many had black notebooks in their hands. The princess gaze followed theirs, but it just led her to the ceiling, which was coated twinkling stars. There was a small rattle from above, a few pebbles fell down onto Emma's head, and she frowned annoyed.
"I think Neverland, is turning on us as well".
As Emma looked over to Captain Hook concerned, a large crack riddled through the ceiling above them, going all the way across the large dome. Followed by an eruption of explosions echoing into the cavern, followed by snickering cheers from the Jolly Rogers crew.
"No worse, it's my former crew and their new leader, Blackbeard".
"He's alive" A pirate yelled from across the room his eyes bulging with anger as he noticed the still breathing former captain.
"Well get you this time, Hook".
Pirates charged towards them shooting off their gun's, bullets began flying all around them hitting some of the murals.
"Stop, you'll destroy it" Hook yelled.
Emma instantly put her hands out ready to use a shielding spell or blast them with guiding light, but as a bullet scaped her arm, she quickly remembered that her spells didn't work in Neverland.
"Quick we need to move".
"But the only way out is to get passed them".
More Pirates began to enter, using explosives in order to pass through the tunnels that had caved in, this had disastrous effects on their surrounds. An eruption of rocks began falling from every direction, the beautiful murals crumbling away to nothing, after standing for centuries.
"Idiots, now we'll all die in here"!
"You're the one that doomed us Hook".
Emma took notice of this exchange frowning but with no time to dwell, as more pirates appeared at the cave entrance.
"Hurry, up this way" Captain Hook said reaching to the Princess as he took off away from the falling debris.
"This is a dead end, Hook".
"Remember what I told you, the pirates had many secrets, I think I found one".
"You found an escape"?
A large boulder fell just centimetres from Captain Hooks feet, he did a quick tumble roll barely dodging more fallen debris. Turning back he then reached out his hand for Emma to take, but tiles beneath her collapsed and she stepped backwards before she could fall, separating the pair.
"HOOK"
"Come on, you've got to jump".
The princess instead had to quickly duck behind a large boulder, her head just missing more gunfire, before breaking into a run towards Captain Hook as they reloaded. With her heart pounding she closed her eyes before making the leap. As her hand reached his Emma smiled despite the peril she was in, as his warm grasp wrapped around her forearm gave her comfort as he pulled her up to safety.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, as good as I could be".
Still smiling she looked deep into his eyes as the adrenaline continued to course through and the took a moment to catch their breath.
"You may have survived the ocean, but you won't walk away from this" A man yelled coming close to them, before throwing another stick of dynamite.
"Wait no" Captain Hook, leaped forward hoping to stop what was about to unfold, it was much too late.
Emma grabbed his hand instinctively pulling him away from danger, as the dynamite hit one of the last remaining pillars. Suddenly an even louder crack echoed, as the room began to completely collapse. Dust was all around them, minimalizing their visibility as the shooting continued, they ran forwards still holding hands, approaching the mural of the dying lovers.
"Place your hand here, just like mine".
"Ok"
Both in synchronisation placed their hands over the hearts of the lovers, with another soft rumble the mural collapsed inwards, creating an opening.
"You figured it out".
"Come on!"
Emma was pushed through to safety by Captain Hook, sliding down a short tunnel until she was back outside face first in the dirt once more. She turned hoping to see Hook, but there was no one behind her just a cloud of dust.
"Captain, captain!"
Out of breath, her eyes desperately searched for him, but she couldn't see anything.
"Hook!"
As the princess screamed out in horror, a shiny metal hook emerged from the dust.
"Captain" she gasped.
They both smiled lying down out of breath, just as they did when they first met on the beach only this felt different. Emma found herself beginning to giggle, then begin to really laugh as did Killian before both fell silent exhausted by the onset of laughter that faded away to silence.
"It's gone" Hook said solemn.
"What is?"
"All of it, the cave drawing and carvings, there for thousands of years and just like that, crumbled away to nothing".
"They were beautiful, but nothing can last forever".
"I'm glad we got to see it".
"When we get home, you'll have your own story to tell".
"That's true, I wish Liam could have been here though".
Emma was silent, having no words to comfort him, she simply placed her hand on the small of his back rubbing it gently.
"Where do we go from here?"
"I wish I'd had more time to decipher the clues, but I still think I have a good idea were to go next".
As the Captain said that he held up the gold coin once more with the skull shape cave at its centre.
"You saw that insignia on the murals".
"Yeah" Killian said flicking the coin once more he stared intently and the markings on it." That's brilliant, absolutely brilliant".
"What is, what did you just figure out?"
"This image on the coin, it's a place, the location of the treasure, x marks the spot".
"Well, we defiantly haven't seen any skull shaped caves around the island".
"Must be hidden somewhere, the only place big enough, would be on the other side of the island through, the… the swamp".
"Sounds promising". The princess said sarcastically.
"Well, as I said adventure awaits".
"I think I've had my fill".