The Golden Beetle cut it's way through the sea towards the Enchanted Forest taking her crew farther than they had ever gone before. Emma and the rest of the crew were enjoying the feel of the sun as they got as it was warmer in this part of the realm. Emma had always loved the feel of sea spray on her face and the sun warming her soul for a minute it made her feel like she could fly. The burden of being unwanted and abandoned seemed to melt away for those few minutes and she was free.

"PIRATES! CRIMSON FLAG OFF THE PORT SIDE!"

Emma's eye flew open as she heard the call come for the crows nest and all around her the ship flew into a flurry of action. The pirate ship come on them fast though Captain Black was a skilled sailor he was no pirate and they Golden Beetle was soon crippled and being boarded by the pirate crew.

Swords clashed and bodies fell all around her Emma feared that she would soon meet her end too. She could hear the Captain Black fighting with the pirate captain not to far away from her. the pirate was taunting the Captain and soon the he too was dead. Emma looked to where Black lay dead with the pirate captain standing over his body wiping his blood off of his sword. His stormy eyes met hers as he started to towards her.

"Come on lass." he grinned at her lecherously. "I don't bite... hard."

She looked around only a handful of her crew was left alive,Emma gripped her sword tighter she was never one to back from challenge and if he meant to take she would not go easily.

Emma raised her sword and prepared to fight for her life and her freedom she would rather die than be imprisoned again.

He was toying with her she could tell Emma was a hell of a sword fighter but he was better. As he smirked at her and almost lazily blocked her sword, Emma soon found herself backed into a corner. This was it this was end she closed her eyes to wait for the blow that would take her life but it never came.

When she opened them she saw the captain walking away from her black billowing behind him as one of his crew whispered to him.

"RETREAT!" he yelled loud and clear. "Back to ship men!"

Emma was confused they had won her captain was dead only her and two other on the crew had survived she hadn't seen them empty the cargo hold yet what was going on.

She ran to the side of the ship taking in the carnage all around her, the pirate were hastily trying to get away that when she saw it, the other ship coming towards them fast and deadly flying color of a kingdom she didn't know.

She watched as it caught up to the pirate ship and the fight that ensured. The new ship easily bested the pirates and was soon coming towards the Golden Beetle.

The two other surviving crew members had come to stand beside her as they waited for the ship to reach them.

Emma couldn't quite make out the name of the ship as it pulled alongside and threw over a gang plank and two officers walked across to the ship. She held her sword tightly still, this ship may have defected the pirates but she no idea where they were from and if they meant to claim her ship and it's hold as their own.

The officer were handsome the tallest one had curly hair peeking out from under his hair and as she took a closer look at her uniform he would appear to be the captain of the other ship. The other had dark hair and eyes that tugged at the edges of an old memory.

"Is this the Golden Beetle?" the one she assumed to be the Captain asked. The others nodded an affirmative.

"Where is your Captain?" questioned the other dark hair one.

Emma pointed his body with her sword.

"Dead."

Dark haired man seem to study her then. Emma ducked her head to avoid his eyes that seems to see too much.

"Ah well that is unfortunate I'm very sorry to hear that. We were on our way to meet you we had heard rumors of Pirates in these parts and it would appear our escort is too late." the captain said.

"Is the cargo still aboard?"

"Yes, sir." she replied automatically.

"Well then we will have it loaded to our ship, as well as any of your crew that survived we can figure out rest out on our way to the kingdom." The captain said it like an order and turned to go.

"Wait." Emma called out to them. "You can not just walk on this ship and take the cargo, saying that we will figure it all out later? Who in the hell do you think you are? With the Captain dead this is my ship now, and you will not touch a single thing on her until you tell me who are and give me some kind of proof to back it up."

The Captain stopped in his tracks and turn around to face her. Emma tired to stand tall under his stare this ship had been her home for many years and she was not about to let someone waltz in here and order her around. As Captain looked at the girl well women in front of him in all his years of service as captain no one had ever talked to him that way before. He let out a hearty laugh and extended his hand to her.

"Captain Liam Jones, in the service of her majesty Queen Snow White."

Emma took his hand squeezed it maybe a little to hard before letting go.

"Emma."

"And this Lieutenant Killian Jones." he said pointing at the dark haired man.

Liam and Killian shared and look and almost of comical back and forth of raised eyebrows, before he too extended his hand for Emma to shake. Emma looked at Lieutenant Jones all she saw was the blue ocean and heard a voice screaming her. She quickly let go and bring her hand to rub in the neck though her shirt.

"Please to meet you both. Own I have some confirmation that you are who you say you are and we have properly buried my crew at sea then we can being to load the cargo and get going."

Liam let out another laugh as he walked away to get the papers this women had requested. he looked back at her over his shoulder.

"I like you lass." he called to her as Emma finally relaxed and loosen the grip on her sword.

Later that night after the crew of the Golden Beetle had been laid to rest and the cargo and survivors safely aboard the Jewel of Realm. Emma stood out on the deck looking back the ship as it faded in to the horizon. It was the only home she had ever really know the only constant thing in her life and now like everything she ever had it was gone. She sighed to herself and pull out the worn necklace and allowed herself a few minute to grieve for her lost home, her fallen crew and for past she couldn't remember. She wiped away the tears that had fallen and pulled herself together, tomorrow would be a long day question to be answered that she had put for today so she headed below deck to get some sleep.

Killian stood in the shadows of the ship watching this strange women. Her name was Emma. t was a fairly common name, she had snow chin and her hair was the color of David's, but it was the eyes the got him. They were the right color of green he could never forget the way the looked as she slipped from his grip. Killian shook his head it was possible he thought but then he had been fooled before.

He made a promise to the King and Queen that he would find their daughter it was his fault she was gone. They had told him many times that he did all he could but they could not sway him. They could not stop the green eyes that woke him in the middle of the night asking him why he had let her go, why did he break his promise.