Every time you look at the stars, it's like opening a door. You could be anyone anywhere, any person in any place, even one far from here. You could even be yourself at any moment in your life. You open that door and you realize you're the same person under the same stars. And at every point in your life, you're under these stars that shine so brightly above you and you think for a moment, a small second in this infinate time in this small galaxy and in the large universe, you think, "I wonder if all who wander are lost?" Because you realize, you're a wanderer in this great infinate of stars. You feel connected with the stars because they have the same goal as you. To be realized. To have someone for a split second think of them. But the thing with stars, just like humans, we all blink out and fade eventually. No one, nothing, lives forever.

Chapter 1

Bloodletting

The lords and I sat around the table. There were ten of us in total, including me. There was King Nostos, of well, the Nostos region. He was an older man with a good laugh and genuine spirit. Then there was myself and I controled the entire Enchanted Forest, there was my father who also controlled a section of the Enchanted forest, along with the two other lords who helped him, Lords Byron and George, two cruel men who used to work for Queen Cora. Speaking of that particular family, I paused. "Where is Queen Regina?" I asked.

"I suppose she chose not to join," Lord Andrew said. His county was the closest to hers. I had suspected that he and she carried a relationship, but I never dare spoke of it. "Very well. I'm glad all of us are doing so well," I said with a warm smile. There was a knock on the door. In walked one of my servants. "Ma'am, we've caught an intruder," He said. That effectively brought my meeting to a draw. "My lords and ladies, I do hope you come to the ball tonight, and I hope you find your rooms comfortable," I said. I was hosting a grand ball tongiht in honor of the moon's change. Everyone in the land was invited.

"Of course Queen Emma." They all said. I bowed. "I will take my leave," I said. They all nodded. An intruder? "Thomus," I said to the servant. "Yes my Queen," He said. "Who is this man? Where is he from?" I ask. "A place...a place much further from here," He said. "Is that all this man said? What a dreadful, awful," I started to say but we were at the cells. I stared at the angel sitting in the cell. He was beautiful. His hair was dark and shuffled, his face covered in a scruff that was down right sexual and his eyes. His eyes were the color of two beautiful oceans, that caught me in his gaze. I saw he was missing his left hand. I saw a coating of fairy dust. Neverland.

He wore all black leather. "Hello," I said with a warm gaze. Suddenly I felt my crown weighing against my head. He smirked. "'Ello Love," He said with a smile. He was Irish. "Thomus, you may leave us," I said. "M'lady, are you sure, he's dangerous," He said. I laughed. "Of course Thomus, Guards," I said gesturing for them to leave. They nodded and left. I sank to my knees on the floor, dress fanning around me and I was looking at this man. "I know you aren't from this land, you're from Neverland aren't you?" I asked with a grin, not trying to hide the excitement in my voice.

He smirked. "Princess, why would I tell you?" He asked. I laughed smally. "I suppose that would be the easy thing," I said. I sighed. "Let me properly introduce myself," I said. "I am Queen Emma." I said with a head bow. "Captain Jones, M'lady." He said. "Well Captain Jones, I can not charge you with anything although," I said. "I'm sure you have something in this Neverland of yours," I said teasingly and I laughed.

Captain Jones looked at me. "Now," I said. I got the key to his cell. I walked over to him. "I can not charge you with anything in this particular land...Captain." I said choosing my words carefully. "So, I suppose I must have to let you go. But I am confused on what you were trespassing in my castle for," I said. I unlocked the door. I looked at him curiously. "I wanted food..." He said. I laughed. "Captain, I must say, that is a lie." I said with a smirk. I reached my arm out for his. "Let's talk about such private matters in the court." I said with a smile.

He took my arm and my skin sparked with electricity. I shook my head, I hadn't felt that since him. I shake my head again and put on my 'Queen' smile. "So, may I ask my dear Captain, why it is that you chose to march over thirty miles to my castle from the sea?" I asked. "Who's to say I hadn't been on land," He said. I chuckled. "Captain, a sailor is never too far from the sea. If I wasn't cooped in here all day, I would spend every moment of my life on the beach and not in this," I said pointing to my crown. "But apparently fate had another idea," I said with a shrug.

"Queen Emma," Lord Andrew called. "Yes," I said in a bored voice. He looked at the Captain for a moment before back to me. "May I escort you to tonights ball?" He asked. I paused. "Lord Andrew, while I appreciate your effort, no." I said. I gave him a sad smile. He gave me a pained face and glared at Captain Jones. I sighed. "I hope you forgive me for Lord Andrew's rudeness. He carries an affair with the Evil Queen," I said walking. "Ah," He said. "Do you know of her Captain," I asked.

"I know enough," He said. "She was once a beautifully loving person, but she's been dark for so long." I said with sadness in my voice. "She tried to kill my mother and if she had, well the land would never have been saved," I said. "Oh," He said. "It's fine. It's in the past and I forgive her," I said.

He nodded. "If I may ask, your Highness, why does the Evil Queen hate you so much?" He asked. I sighed. We reached the privacy of my personal court. No guards, just my personal study. I took my arm from his. "A long time..it seems as if it is a long time now, Regina and I may have been friends. My mother is Snow White, my father Prince Charming. They ruled most of this kingdom. Regina and Cora ruled a very far away land. My mother had me, and for five years I was a princess. An ancient prophet gave a prophecy that I would kill Cora and Regina and give peace and contentment to the land. Cora heard this and took me away." I said sadly. "She burned my parents castle with her magic and took me. I was five years old." I said.

"I was locked in a tower for eighteen years, under the notation that my parents were dead." I said. He looked at me. "During those eighteen years, chaos and hell broke loose. Cora was a powerful wizard...trained under the dark one," I said. I could hear the anger in my voice. The Captain narrowed his eyes. "Cora and Regina take the life from young girls, sucking their youth so they stay alive..." I said.

"Oh," He said. "If they both were to eat a piece of my heart, they would be forever young." I said. "If I may ask, why is that?" He asked. "I am officially called The Virgin Queen Emma. A virgin such as myself is someone who is cleared from darkness and sin." I said. He nodded. "I had been in this cell, alone for eighteen years, and it was hell." I said looking at him. "I had no one to talk to. I was barely given food." I said. "Water was scarce." I said. "I'm very sorry," He said. I sighed. "It's in the past. I escaped. I met a pirate and his crew and learned how the seas worked..." I said. I bit my lip. Neal's face filtered through my mind. His lazy smile, his beautiful eyes. "But the captain gave me to the Queen and a huntsman named Graham took my heart. Literally. Tore it from my chest." I said. His eyes grew dark and stormy. "That's not an honorable thing for a Pirate to do," He said shakily.

I laughed bitterly. "Pirates are not the kind of folk I should associate myself with, Captain. And yet I did. And if I were ever told, would you go to sea, I would gladly." I said sadly. "She had my heart for an entire year, controlling me. Living without a heart...it was entirely painful. I did a lot of bad things." I said honestly. "However, I can say without guilt, if it meant saving my people, I would do it again. Sacrifice." I said.

"What did you do?" He asked. "With the help of the huntsman, I managed to have my heart come to my chest," I said pointing to the scar. "And with a sword, I managed to defeat the Queen. She is in exile." I murmured. "Queen Regina blames me and gladly makes note of this. I've been nothing but cordial since she wasn't the one who locked me in a tower, but she blames me for her people hating her." I said angrily.

"Her people hate her?" He asked. "I do pray that you never go to her land Captain. The earth there is scorched from the fires where she burns the corpses of the young girls she sucks the life of. The people are starving and disease ridden, and act savage. The air smells of death, blood and sadness." I said. I shivered. "I can't go near the land. Once, when I had gone back in search to offer help between neighboring lands, I was attacked." I said. "The people are clawing at me, and for what?" I asked. "Regina killed them in front of me." I said shakily.

"The women, the children, the men, all dead. Slaughtered in front of me." I said. "Where is Regina now?" He asked. I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know." I said moving to my desk. "Captain, enough about me." I said with a smile. "Tonight is the annual Masquerade ball. All the important leaders of the land will be there, and I do hope that you'd do me the honor of accompanying me to such an event." I said with a smile.

He smirked. "Always for a Queen." He said. "Wonderful. I'll have a room done for you in a moment." I said. A knock sounded through the room. I sighed and picked my skirts up and walked to the door. "My Queen, there has been a terrible tragedy," Gale, my most trusted advisor spoke. "What?" I asked. "There has been an attack on the castle," He said. I straightened my shoulders. "By whom," I asked in my stern voice. "It seems to be one of Regina's men. It appears to be a distraction," He said.

I held back a dangerous growl. "A distraction from what Captain?" I asked in a dead quiet voice. "We're not sure." He said slowly. I sighed. "Very well. Do the people know?" I asked. "No it was against the sea coast. No injuries sustained really." He said. "Did anyone say they knew the men attacking? Did anyone see them?" I asked. He sighed. "No. Sadly, that did not happen." He said. I pursed my lips together. "We did see a unusual ship though," He said. I paused. "The ship was named the Jolly Roger."

AN:/ Well this is the first chapter in what I hope to be a really cool story! These chapters are really cool to write...My Captain Swan Feels are going to be all over this story! Please Review...It really helps me as a young author! (:

Kisses!

-The Canadian Snowflake Birdy