Emma was stood on her marble balcony outside her window leaning on the railing while watching the sun rise up above the mountains, the castle was eerily silent but Emma had gotten used to the silence over the past years. She was just about to go and get ready for the day ahead when she saw a ship on the horizon, the sun was seeping through the masts it looks magical, enchanted almost thought Emma when a knock at the door woke her from her thoughts.

Emma opened the wooden gold decorated door and there before her was her mother, "Emma why are you not ready yet? We have a lot to do to get ready for your ball."

"Do we have to throw a ball for my birthday can't we just you know celebrate within the family?" Protested Emma as she sat on the edge of her bed. "Emma we have been through this, me and your father want you to marry through love and not politics but for that to happen you need to meet people at balls as you are nearing marriage age which means you need to find him soon."

Emma and her mother had spent hours walking around the castle making sure the decorations and food was ready for the ball then once they had finished inside the castle, Snow and Emma went into the village to invite the villagers and buy a new dress for Emma; or well that was the plan Snow had in mind but not Emma. She had and enough of the ball for one day and Emma planned on sneaking away while Snow was distracted with the villagers.

Emma walked to the docks to look out at the horizon which was her favourite place as she dreamed what it would be like to travel the world. Emma pulled her midnight blue cloak tighter as the wind was starting to get cold, "what's a woman like you doing out here by herself?" Asked a deep allusive voice from behind her, Emma slowly turned round, the wind blew her hood down which caused her wavy blonde hair to cascade down her shoulders. Before her stood a tall brown haired man with stubble and storm coloured eyes, dressed in a long black leather coat with black trousers, boots and top he was almost pirate looking.

"Getting away from my annoying mother, what about you sir?" asked Emma as she admired the mysterious man "Well I saw a young lass and thought I need to speak to her" responded the man. "The name is Killian Jones what about you lass?" Asked the pirate his mouth growing into a half smirk, Emma ignored his question "You look like a man with a ship." Observed Emma "My ship? She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood. We weathered many a storm together, seeing many strange glittering shores."

Emma smiled at him which he mirrored, "well sir are you just going to leave a lady waiting or are you going to show her your marvel of a ship?" Killian gestured for her to follow him which she did but to her dismay as she took a step off of the curb which she was standing on she tumbled and landed in his arms. "Going for an embrace are we? Rather forward don't ya think?" Stated Killian with a devilish smile to which Emma responded with a roll of her eyes.

As she patted down her dress she noticed that he had no left hand, he had a hook, her gaze went back up to him and behind she saw her mother watching them, "I have to go, maybe we will meet again" stated Emma as she gave him a smile.

As she made her way over to her mother she could feel his eyes on her watching her walk away, she turned back to him; "I'm Emma by the way." The pirate smiled at her and she went back over to her mother.

So who was that?" Asked Snow as she linked arms with her daughter, "No one." Replied Emma suppressing a smile, "doesn't look like no one, did you invite him to the ball?" Emma had been so occupied with forgetting about the ball, that the thought of inviting him had slipped her mind. She turned round to see if he was still there but he was gone, the smile slowly faded from Emma's face as she started to think maybe she wouldn't see him again, he was a pirate after all he could have been just buying supplies then leaving.

After the carriage ride home Emma had been sent by Snow to go and try on the dress she brought her for the ball. To Emma's surprise the dress fitted perfectly and looked amazing, it was a grey dress which flowed down to the ground with a silk under dress and gems cascading downwards like frost it also had a gem waistband just underneath the chest wrap around.

Emma took the dress off and put back on her pink dress which after the ball gown felt different, it felt heavy compared to the ball gown which was light and loose. Emma went to her window and she could see the ships all in the docks and she thought about Killian which sent a smile straight across her face, right there and then she decided that from now until the ball, whenever she could, she would go to the docks and see if he was still there so she could invite him to the ball.

She started to daydream about it but was snapped out of it when her friend Belle whom she had grown up with came into her room. They spent the night talking about the ball and Killian, Belle had agreed to help her anyway she could to find Killian before the ball. Eventually after hours of talking and laughing Belle had to leave to go home; Emma then got ready for bed and with one last look out to the horizon she went to bed with a smile on her face looking forward to tomorrow.