Inhale

I fumbled through the thick island jungle fighting through aggressive vines hearing his footsteps plundering behind me. Each breath I took, my chest lifted with a burning heave as the cold and salty air filled my lungs.

Exhale

I sprinted farther, feeling my chest heave with every movement. His attempts of trying to catch up were almost hopeless just as his attempt to reach the map that I clutched in my hands.

"YOU USED ME YOU BLOODY WHORE!"

He roared behind me, I let out an exasperated laugh.

"A whore, eh? I've been called many things but never a whore!"

I yelled back and sprinted further and leapt over a fallen tree. "

I'm going to feed you to the sharks!"

"You were the one that fell for it, mate!"

I swung a tight left through a thicket and tossed the thick jungle vines away from my face. I was contemplating on when his fellow crewmen would start showing up but considering that they would think that this was a "lover's quarrel" I doubted it. From ahead I could see a long stretch of space where the cliff's split apart. Luckily, I had the vines on my side with this part of the jungle. I took another deep breath and sprinted another four feet before launching myself onto the nearest vine.

My hands gripped onto the thick grassy vine and my body lurched toward the other side. I heard Hook stop and pause seeing me swing my body to the other ledge. Once I swung closer to the ledge, I sliced the vine with my dagger and leapt onto the ledge. Hitting the ground shoulder first I did a barrel roll and stood up straight.

"Thanks for the map, lad!"

I waved and tipped my hat to him before turning around and leaving Hook to sulk in his discontent that a woman had finally managed to beat him at his own game.

"SWAN!"

he roared with sheer anger that made the birds in the trees fly out of their comfy homes. The roar echoed for miles as I walked farther away from the man that I managed to trick. With that yell; I stepped forward and continued my endless journey in search of treasure that can pull my kingdom out of inevitable doom.

~ONE YEAR EARLIER~

"The kingdom has lost all of its fortune!" My mother, Snow said solemnly from her throne.

"What nonsense are you speaking of? Father said that the diamond mine is filled with rich-"

Mother waved a hand to silence me; "It's nothing but dirt and coal, it seems they thought the diamond wasn't filled with riches after all."

She put a hand to her face and sighed, my mother was strong but she knew that without the fortune she could not keep her kingdom happy.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, the lordships and oracles believed that the mine was rich with fortune! How could the oracles have predicted so carelessly?

"Emma, my dear, it seems that there only one way you can save the kingdom."

"How am I supposed to pull this kingdom out of destitution?" my mother stood up and grasped my hands in her warm ones. "You might have to bind this kingdom with another wealthier one."

"Are you talking about of an arranged marriage?"

She nodded sadly; "you're going to have to marry Prince Baelfire." My eyes widened in astonishment as I pulled my hands away from my mother's.

"I'd rather take an arrow to the chest than marry that man of such arrogance and lack of decent manner."

"If you want this kingdom to survive then you must do this." She said staring at me with such hurt eyes. I kept shaking my head in bewilderment, my mother was never a woman to pawn off her own daughter to other men, especially since she was almost forced into an arranged marriage of her own. If she needed to join kingdoms then the kingdom must be in more peril than I had imagined.

"Where's father? He should have some sort of an idea how to get out of this than an arranged marriage?"

"He's left to go talk to King Gold about the marriage, we should expect him in fortnight."

"There are other ways of pulling this kingdom out of debt, and marriage is not one of selections." "Emma, you have to do this for us, for the kingdom, for your peo-"

I kept shaking my head in disbelief and pure anger, I was unwilling to accept that I would be forced into a marriage that I wasn't ready for. I turned around and sprinted out of the throne room; for I couldn't be in the same room with the woman that was going to feed me to the wolves. I kept my tears at bay as I ran past the guards and the maidens. "Princess Emma!" One of the chambermaids called after me.

I ran towards the back garden in attempt to stay away from my worst nightmare. Going through the tall, thick maze I found peace and quiet. I fell to my knees on the soft grass biting my lip to suppress these tears.

How could she do this to me? After all she had been through? She would dare throw me to the wolves after her promise.

I brought my legs up and sat there with my head between them, taking in deep long breaths. I have to do something, anything, I have to do something other than partaking in a false marriage. I have to find a way to save this kingdom, to save my people, and yet make my parents proud.

Then, all at once a small fragmented memory came into my head.

"Emma, darling, what are you reading now?"

"It's a treasure book, father! It lists all these unknown treasures with their stories."

"Have you ever heard of Amelia's Widowed Treasure?"

"No, it's not listed in this book; oh can you please tell me the story?"

"Long ago, a wealthy queen married her one true love but the man was also fighting the Ogre Wars at the time and was killed among the many men. The queen began to go crazy, suspecting that her maids, knights, and guards would take her treasure from her. The queen was in mad state that she began to get greedy of her gold, jewelry, anything that her guards would take from thieving pirates. After years of accumulating all of this treasure; she hid it well on her own island and cast a spell on the island. She was so consumed with suspicion and paranoia that she moved to her island and vowed that no one would receive any of her treasured goods…"

"Unless?"

"Unless true love's kiss is presented in front of the treasure, then shall the curse be removed,"

I wiped a stray tear that had made an escape, I stood up slowly; now knowing what I was going to do. I walked slowly as I thought of a plan to shove this forward, I had little time so I had to act quickly and soon.

By midnight I had dressed in some trousers, boots, a thick white shirt, a vest and a cloak to disguise myself perfectly. I shoved a dagger into my boot along with a revolver in my belt, I stared at my father's sword and grasped it putting it in my holster, I was ready to make my escape.

I silently opened my window and grasped my make shift rope from my bed sheets. Tying it to my bed post I threw it behind me. My heart was pounding as I began to climb out the window. It was several stories down the castle's side, but this was the only escape route. I went down another six notches before I started wondering how many clothes and sheets I used to craft this.

I didn't get to say goodbye to my mother since I couldn't bear to face her after what she'd done, and because she'd see through my façade and know I was up to something. So, instead after I got my idea of finding Amelia's treasure; I stayed in my bedroom and prepared only telling two maids that I trusted securely. I only had one idea where I would find pirates, and that was either at the docking bay, the nearest brothel, or bar.

I finally saw that the rope had run long enough for me to drop at a safe length. I got to the last notch and let go of the rope. I hit the ground on my feet and made my way around the corner to the back gate. I turned a sharp left only to collide with Cecile, my mother's favorite chambermaid. She let out a scream seeing me hooded, I clamped my hand over her mouth and dragged her behind the nearest brush.

"Shh, Cecile, it's just me, it's me Emma."

I said removing my hood; Cecile squinted into the darkness, her jade eyes widened with surprise against the pale moonlight above.

"Your Royal Highness! You scared me, what are you doing out at such an appalling hour? What are you wearing?"

From ahead I heard the guards ask one another if they heard Cecile's scream.

"Cecile, I'm leaving, but you must not tell the queen. I'm off to save the kingdom, you can tell her tomorrow but not tonight. Do not alert the guards either, if you please, distract them so I can escape easily."

"But Your Highness, Her Majesty The Queen, would not be pleased to hear that you've left-"

"Cecile, please, please do not warn the guards. I'm trying to save the kingdom and I'm running out of time."

Cecile's eyes stared into mine for long moments; I began to panic hearing the guards starting to investigate the scream. Cecile was going to be hard to keep a secret since she was so loyal to my mother. Her eyes were blank and emotionless so I could not read what she was thinking. My hands began to shake hearing their footsteps come closer.

"Come out! We know you're in there!" one of the knights shouted at us, I gave a panicked look to Cecile, her face had worn into a solemn look as she whispered to me:

"I shall tell the Queen tomorrow like you requested, excuse me," Cecile curtseyed and then went out in front of the guards.

"Oh, pardon me, Sir Willian and Sir Gregory a mouse had ran over my foot and I squealed." I could see that Cecile made a motioning movement with her hand to signal for me to go forth. "Thank you, Cecile." I whispered and then went out the other end of the brush and made my escape.

The bar smelled of thick liquor, vomit, and sweat when I stepped in. Woman in revealing dresses passed me and laughed at me over their shoulders. Most women sat on pirate's laps and drank beer, I stood out among the many from my clean clothes. I saw the barman and walked up hesitatingly, he saw me and gave a small nod.

"What can I help you with tonight, lass?" He asked sliding a beer down the counter.

"I'm looking for the Captain?" The guy looked up and scoffed at me, "

Another one of his whores? He told me to shoo you away as soon as you asked for him."

My eyes widened in surprise of the man, "I can assure you I'm not one of his escorts, I need to speak with him."

"You're gonna have to ask the quarter master before talking to the captain,"

I sighed in aggravation, "where can I find him?" "You're right next to him, sweet heart." A man with a gruff voice whispered at me. I flinched away from him and stood up,

"May I speak with your captain?"

"You may, for a price, lassie." He laughed stroking his muddied beard, he smelled of rum and rotten potatoes.

"What is your price?" I asked seeing him stand up and come up to me, touching a stray hair and playing with it between his fingers. I felt my hand reach for the butt of my dagger, I leaned my leg up and caught it in my hand.

"I think you know what my price is, lassie,"

I tried my hardest not to gag, the quarter master reached out to grab at my chest but I had out smarted him, instead, I grasped his hand and twisted it behind him and bent him over the table before putting my dagger to his throat. The bar froze up after hearing glass shatter onto the ground spilling beer all over.

"I think you should know that I am a lady, and I shall not be treated like one of the many escorts around here. I'm going to ask once again, may I please speak with your captain?"

The man cleared his throat, with a malicious, sick tone he slurred out each words that caused havoc onto the bar.

"SEIZE THIS WHORE."

Immediately, I saw the shadows of the pirates come forward, I grasped some glasses and smacked it into the nearest pirate. Another one pounced and I sliced his wrist, one man grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me around. I kicked him in the groin and grabbed another empty glass and smacked that one into the man. Three were down but I was easily out numbered, I knew I had managed to get way in over my head than I expected.

But through the yelling and glass breaking, one solid voice cut through the crowd like a newly sharpened blade. "AYE, MATES, WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE QUANDRY HERE?" I turned around to see the captain step forward out of the shadows.

CONTINUE? Let me know!