A/N: A new POV... Who could this be? Any guesses? (comments = love)
~The Villain~
Things were not going his way. Where had it all gone wrong? He leaned back in his desk chair to ponder this notion.
He had heard that the pirate was going to be alone in the woods for some heroic quest, and that gave him great joy. It was a beautiful opportunity to rid himself of the pirate, so he sent his men out expecting a quick victory. It was a platoon, afterall, versus one man.
Then the morning came, along with news from his spy inside the Charming Castle. Emma Swan had been seen leaving with the pirate.
It was too good to be true.
But it was true. He sent his fastest horse to rendezvous with the platoon already en route. The soldier returned a few hours later, having delivered the orders to capture the princess, and kill the pirate. Two birds, they say. He thought she had been right when she told him fate was on his side.
Perhaps he simply underestimated the pirate. The man didn't seem especially cunning when they had crossed paths. Then again, assumptions were known for their lack of forward progress. He'd simply compensate by never underestimating anyone else, ever.
He thought about that a moment. He did know a budding witch who owed him a favor for the introduction…
Before that thought could fester, the door opened to reveal his General with a particularly lackluster look on his face. The General entered, bowed his head sharply before moving toward the desk.
He was not in the mood for more bad news. Perhaps he'd string someone up for effect, get the men really focused on finding their targets. He was not amused by all the pomp and circumstance The General was displaying as he moved stiffly, finally stopping at the end of his desk.
"Well?" He asked the General, his voice entirely calm and void of emotion.
"Sir. The princess and the pirate…"
"Get on with it."
"They've continued to evade our forces. We believe they must have seen our men, and gone into hiding. There has been no trace since we found their campsite."
"This is unacceptable. Send more men."
"Sir-"
"Take them all, for all I care." His voice was cold, he knew. That's what he had been told, anyway. "I want the forest crawling with my men. I want the princess, alive. I don't care what you have to do. I want the pirate strung up!" He paused for effect. "Has our spy reported anything new?"
"Only that they haven't returned to the Charming's castle, sir."
"Hmm. Threaten the family again, see if that turns anything up." He picked up his mug, staring into it as ripples formed. "Send the fastest horse to Willis."
"Willis? Sir-"
"I require her presence. Is that understood?"
Thank you for reading!
