I own nothing except my delusions.
Emma stood at the bow of the White Swan, taking in the cool, salty air as the wind whipped around her, the skirts of her red dress billowing around her. To Emma, nothing felt as freeing as being out on the open ocean. She looked forward to the four week journey she would be on, having coming from her visitation of Princess Alexandra's kingdom. She was eagar to return home, but she would have been lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to her journey back.
She basked in the open air, able to forget all of her problems, both past and present. She could forget her royal duties, any conflicts in the kingdom, her past. She could let down her walls, even if just for a moment. She could just breathe.
After some time, Pinocchio came up behind her, breaking her our of her daze.
"Princess Emma," he greeted, "I've just received word from Captain Smollett that we should be home sooner than expected. He said we are facing favorable conditions, and the wind is on our side."
He grinned at her, which Emma returned. As much as she loved the sea, it was never a good idea to send too much time out on the open ocean. Though unlikely, there was always a chance of atrack from rival kingdoms. Thankfully, Regina was no longer a threat, having found her True Love in the bandit Robin Hood before she enacted the Dark Curse. Though it was also unlikely, there was always the chance of various creatures attacking the ship. Having heard so many legends of such creatures Emma was curious, but she knew how disastrous it could be if that curiousity was sated.
"Thank you, Pinocchio," Emma smiled at her oldest friend. He nodded to her and turned to depart, leaving Emma to return watching the waves.
Eventually, she made her way down to her quarters, where she began to try to pass some time by reading. She tried to relax, but it was in vain. She began worrying the swan pendant that hung around her neck, a gift from her parents for her eighteenth birthday. Emma couldn't help but feel anxious for some reason, that something was going to happen soon. Very soon.
After reading the same line ten times, Emma gave up on her book, tossing it onto the table. She began pacing around the cabin, before deciding to do out on to the deck again for air. As she reached the door leading out of her cabin, Emma could hear shouting suddenly erupt. She threw open the door, rushing out onto the deck.
The crew of the White Swan was in a frenzy, the men rushing around, doing everything they could to pick up speed. Emma darted up to the quarterdeck, intent on finding Captain Smollott or Pinocchio. She spotted the captain.
"Captain Smollett, what happening?" she asked him, knowing that whatever was happening was whatever her subconscious was waiting for.
The captain turned to her, worry plain on his face. "Princess Emma, it's not safe for you to be up here. You should go back below deck."
Emma shook her head. "No, Captain, tell me. What's happening?"
"Pirates," Smollett gritted out. "We need to keep you safe. We don't know what the ship is. I haven't seen this ship before. None of the crew recognizes it."
Emma reached for the spyglass resting on the helm, quickly spying the ship in pursuit. The air immediately evaporated from Emma's lungs. The crimson flag, illuminated by the setting sun on the horizon, was unmistakable. Emma noticed the ship was quickly gaining on them, and knew that there was no way to outrun them.
Emma quickly studied the ship, wondering if she was mistaken as to it's identity. Growing up, she heard legends of the famous pirate who sought revenge on her kingdom, but the man was always regarded as nothing more than a myth, just a ghost story used to frighten children. If the feared captain did ever exist, it would have been hundreds of years ago, when the stories first started. But the ship fit all of the descriptions she had ever heard of it, even matching some of the old illustrations she had once discovered. Emma knew that ship, knew they were being chased by the Jolly Roger.
Emma whirled back to the captain, seeing Pinocchio racing to join them. She couldn't help but ask. "Do we have any chance at all to outrun them?"
The captain shook his head. "I'm sorry, Princess, but no. That ship is gaining too fast."
Pinocchio looked at the captain, disbelief in his voice. "But this is the fastest ship in the realm."
"It is, but that ship is faster."
Pinocchio sighed, clearly exasperated. "The crew is prepared. They are willing to fight."
Emma felt her heart plummet. If her suspicions were correct, and the crew tried to fight, they would be slaughtered. Her voice was just a whisper. "No."
Both men looked at her curiously. Emma willed her voice to come out stronger. "I think that ship- it's the Jolly Roger."
Pinocchio immediately responded. "But that ship is nothing more than some old story. There's no way that's it, especially with some ancient pirate captain."
Emma glanced back at direction of the approaching ship. She no longer needed the spyglass to see it. They did not have a lot of time before it was directly on them. She turned back to the two men. "I know it sounds crazy, but that ship fits every story I've ever heard."
Emma could tell that Pinocchio did not believe her. Smollett was wary. As seasoned as he was, he'd never experienced anything like this before.
Emma could not let them fight, just to mercilessly be killed. She looked at the captain. "Don't let the men fight. Let's see what they want."
The captain considered her words, weighing the options. "Okay then, Princess Emma. I'll command the men to be prepared, but not to draw first."
He moved to the very edge of the helm, shouting orders to the men. Emma and Pinocchio turned to watch the approaching ship, finally able to make the name out on it. Emma was right on its identity.
Pinocchio sucked in a breath, immediately began to try to get her below deck, claiming her safety.
"No," Emma protested. "They're coming after a royal ship. There's a reason why. I need to be up here. And besides, I'm armed, so you don't need to worry."
Pinocchio immediately knew he was defeated. Emma would always do what she thought was best. She truely was her parents' child. He stayed by Emma's side, intent that even if she would not take shelter, he would still protect her.
The Jolly Roger had finally caught up to the White Swan. The crew watched as planks moved atop the gunwales, and some of the pirate crossed over. Emma stood nervously amongst the crew, watching the pirates.
The pirates reminded her of snakes, seemingly calm and confident, but ready to attack at just a moments notice. She had heard many times of pirate crews, so she had an image conjured in her head of them, but this crew did not fit into her ideas. They looked well cared for and relatively clean. The men looked strong, and seemed to have a wisdom about them that was ages old. But they held the malicious look she expected.
Emma resisted pulling the dagger concealed in her corset, waiting. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Emma, a man who could be nothing less than the captain appeared on the deck.
Like the the Jolly Roger, Emma has heard stories of the infamous Captain Hook, his real name lost through time. She knew the tales of the man bloodthirsty for revenge, intent on making his enemies suffer. She couldn't deny that as a child, the stories of the man terrified her. She always imagined him an imposing, scary man to fit the moniker.
The man before her shocked her more than the image she had that had shattered when she saw the pirates. He was striking, standing confidently amongst his men. He was tall, dressed in black leather, his long coat swirling around his knees. His hair was dark, with dark scruff along his jaw. As he drew closer, Emma could take in his handsome features. She noticed his eyes, a bright, piercing blue rimmed in kohl. She tore her eyes away from his face to notice his namesake, a gleaming silver hook where his left hand should be. Despite that, Emma could not deny that Hook was a very attractive man.
Emma felt a strange draw to the man, which she immediately pushed away.
Hook's eyes scanned the crew, his hand resting on his belt, smiling cruelly. "Well, what do we have here? A royal ship?"
He quickly spotted Emma amongst the men, her red dress sticking out. Something Emma couldn't identify crossed his face, possibly something akin to finding a light in the darkness. The expression lasted a mere second before slipping back into the captain persona, his grin bigger than before. "Ah, transporting a princess are we?"
Pinocchio instantly moved closer, trying to hide Emma behind him. Emma resisted his attempts, moving to stand before Hook.
Emma's voice was firm. "Who are you and what do you want?"
Hook mockingly bowed to her, chuckling darkly. "Captain Hook. And don't you know, Princess? I want your kingdom to suffer."
Emma help his gaze, refusing to look away. "And why is that?"
"Because you made me lose something very dear to me."
Emma could tell by his tone he was ready to launch an attack, and she had to avoid it, fast. She knew the crew of the White Swan would perish if the pirates attacked. She knew she would have to make a sacrifice, and pray it would be enough to sate Hook's need for vengeance. "If I offered myself to you as prisoner, will you spare the crew?"
There were some protest from the crew, namely from Smollett and Pinocchio. Hook ignored them, studing Emma, looking for any sign of a lie or trick. His grin was wicked, seeing no signs of deception. "Well Princess, I believe we have a deal.
Pinocchio grabbed her arm tightly. "What are you doing? You can't go there with those pirates. What of the kingdom? Of King James and Queen Snow? Your parents?"
Emma's breath caught at the mention on her parents. The thought of leaving her parents pained her, on never feeling her mother's warm embrace again, seeing her father's proud smile, of her brother's laugh. But she knew what she had to do. She looked back to her friend. "The kingdom will not fall. My parents will not let it. And my brother is safe, he will take my place." Her voice dropped lower, so only Pinocchio could hear her. "Let me do this, Pinocchio. Let me save these men. If I go, they will be spared."
Pinocchio looked crestfallen, but nodded to her woodenly, knowing he had no choice. He knew Emma had already decided her fate.
"Come along, Princess," Hook called out mockingly, enjoying the whole display. "Let's get you to your new home."
Emma reached to squeeze Pinocchio's hand one last time before moving to stand by Hook. She gave him a cold look, which he ignored. Hook rested his hook gently but firmly on her back, steering her back towards his ship. Emma was mildly surprised when he offered her assistance climbing onto the gunwale and onto the planks, making sure she crossed without any problems. When they reached the end, he decended first, lending his hand up to help her down. Emma didn't think a pirate, even a captain, was capable of such an act of a gentleman.
The rest of the pirates disembarked from the White Swan, drawing the boards with them, cutting off Emma's last connections to the life she had known. She did not look back, knowing she would break if she did.
Emma couldn't help thinking of the irony of the situation. Just hours earlier, she had thought of the freedom the sea brought her. Now, it was her prison.
Hook moved to stand before her, spreading his arms out, his voice mocking. "Well, your Highness, welcome aboard the Jolly Roger."
I just want to give everyone a little backstory in case anyone has any questions about Regina in here.
Regina still did not walk into the tavern that Tinkerbell led her to with Robin, and still became the Evil Queen. She did however meet Robin before she enacted the Dark Curse, finding her happy ending. She reconciled with Snow and David before Emma was born, so Emma grew up with Regina and Robin as part of her family, along with Roland. Because she also did not enact the curse, Henry Sr. was not killed, and lived to an old age, happy that Regina finally found her own happiness. So yes, Regina does have her happy ending in this fic.
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