A/N: Hello to the people who managed to bear with me so far! First I want to thank everyone who reviewed/followed/Favorited this humble story :) Second I want to tell you in advance that this chapter doesn't include the storybrooke storyline. Only the past and the further past.. :) Next chapter will include some neighbors/roommates!CS for sure. :)

And for the guest who asked if Emma is or is not the savior/Snow and Charming's daughter/Henry's mom- I can tell you for sure that Henry does NOT exist in this story, I'm sorry if that disappoints anyone. And you'll just have to stay with me to find out the rest... don't worry I have plans... *diabolical laughter*

The next time Captain hook saw Queen Anne's Revenge appearing on the horizon was a few months later. Not for the first time he smiled at the sight of the familiar ship, but for different reasons this time. When it was close enough for him to see the blonde captain he was practically grinning. He was sitting on the edge of the docks of a small port-town in the enchanted forest.

She stepped off of her ship while talking to a man he recognized as one of her crew when she finally seemed to notice him.

"Hook!" she called, smiling widely. "Thought I'd find you here, since you left the Jolly nearly unprotected. I was almost tempted," she added playfully before shaking his hand shortly. "August!" she called, and the man she was talking to earlier approached them slowly. "August- lieutenant and practically brother." She introduced swiftly. "I gather there is no point in introducing me," chuckled Hook and gestured at left arm lightly.

-xxx-

"I was never a fan of this realm." Confessed Emma afterwards, when the three of them sat inside of a local tavern. "In fact, one of the reasons I married my asshole of a dead husband was my need to get out of this bloody place," she looked at her glass of rum shortly before empting it into her throat, loving the sensation. "But the rum here most definitely is extraordinary." She wiped her mouth with her sleeve in an unladylike manner. Hook laughed lightly.

"What brings you here, love?" he asked.

She smiled mysteriously. "Business." She replied.

He chuckled and raised his glass in response. "To business." He declared.

About 10 years earlier

A 17 year old princess Emma of the Enchanted Forest, daughter of the infamous Queen Snow White and King James (David, Emma knew, and it made her chuckle every time someone called her father), was strolling through the southern port town that was near her parents' summer palace. Accompanied by her childhood friend, Pinocchio, as just about always.

"Emma, I really don't think we should-" he whispered.

"Urgh, don't be such a coward, I just want to see the ocean. Besides, I didn't ask you to come with me."

"But why won't you just go tomorrow morning or- and here's a crazy idea- actually ask for your parents' permission once in your life!"

The princess huffed. "I don't need their permission to breathe, do I? Because it certainly seems like I need it for everything else."

"You should listen to your friend, little princess." Said a hoarse voice from behind them. They both gasped and turned to face a dirty, black-haired man who was surrounded by man just as unappealing.

"What do you want?" her voice shook, but her eyes remained strong.

"What is your lovely friend's name?" He asked, looking in his eyes.

"August." Lied Pinocchio easily. Once again she was stunned by how good of a liar he was.

"So first of all I want August to drop the knife he is holding behind his back." Said the man. Pinocchio did as he commanded. The man waved at his friends and two of them grabbed Pinocchio by the arms and pointed daggers to his back and throat.

"Let go of him!" growled Emma. "Who are you anyway?!" she yelled at the man.

"How rude of me, your highness, I apologize. The name is Edward Teach. Most known by my moniker though, Blackbeard."

Emma flinched at the familiar name. Many stories were told about the cruelty of this man.

"What do you want?" she asked again.

"Oh, this is quite simple, actually. You come with me, or he meets his end."

"Emma, don't you dare even think about-" started Pinocchio, only to be stopped by Emma's words. "Will you let him go?" she asked, glaring at the pirate. He nodded. "Of course, milady."

"Then I'll come with you."

"Emma, no!" yelled Pinocchio.

"I won't let you die if there is anything I can do about it," said Emma with tears in her eyes.

"I can't let you go with him!"

"I have already decided. I'll go," she said to her friend, Blackbeard and quite frankly to herself too.

"Fantastic." Grinned Blackbeard in a way that made her sick. "I'll tell you what. I didn't really expect you to be this beautiful, so instead of asking for ransom, I think I'll simply marry you!" as he said that she gasped in shocked anger, but gulped hard and nodded as the knives pressed harder to her friend's body.

"Let me come too!" shouted Pinocchio in despair. "I can work. I'll do anything. Just let me come."

He could see the pirate was actually considering the offer. As a response to Emma's glare he stated: "I'm not leaving you alone with him."

"You've got yourself a deal." Said Blackbeard. "Just remember," he added with a smirk. "She's mine now."

"August," she said, using his fake name with tears in her eyes. "You don't have to do this."

"You didn't have to save me."

She choked a sob.

"Let's go, my beautiful swan." He said and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Don't touch me." She hissed.

"And why not? You are my wife to be, after all," he chuckled.

She gulped in disgust.

She was.

And after two years of abuse and sorrow, she killed him.

She sat in their cabin, crying her eyes out in horror and staring at the blood on her hands, as she recognized a simple truth.

She was a pirate.

And only then, when she was finally free, she could confess to herself that even then, in the very beginning, in the night when Blackbeard found her, there was an undeniable spark of excitement in her heart caused by the thought of leaving her life behind and be free of the weight that was being a royal.

She didn't want to go back.

And at the age of 19 she became the captain of one of the most dreaded pirate ships ever to sail the open sea.

She went by The Black Swan, as a reminder of her husband's favorite nickname of her, and slowly gained her own reputation. With August (his old name almost forgotten already) as her lieutenant she gained respect from her crew, that would have followed her to hell and back.

The innocent princess who just wanted to see the ocean at night was long gone.

Tell me what do you think? I'll try to update as quickly as I can :) Peace and Love :3