"She's close."

"The ship or the woman?" William asked, standing beside Killian. The wind pushed at both men's hair and pulled at their uniforms.

"Both." Killian smiled and slapped William on the back he made his way across the deck, calling orders to his men. If this pirate was as mild as what he'd heard, then he and his crew would have no trouble apprehending the ship and delivering her and her crew to the King; he'd make his brother proud.

Boom!

A loud echoing sound made its way across the water. Killian jerked his gaze in the direction it had come. Smoke billowed from the side of "The Raven Saint" and he could see she was gaining fast. The cannon ball splashed harmlessly in the water off the bow, a warning shot. So much for this particular pirate being less of a violent sort. He shouted new orders to his men determined that he was not going to lose this fight.

"We've fired the warn'n shot Cap'n!" Cutter's voice rang out over the deck and Emma looked over her shoulder giving him a small smile.

"I want that vessel disabled Mr. Cutter! Do we have enough men to run both ships?" Emma strode over to Cutter her hands on her hips and a certain strut to her step. Their plan was fairly simple; disable the ship so they could board, take the men hostage and hold them for ransom. However, Emma's plan was riding on the fact that she'd have enough men to run both ships without over taxing her crew.

"We 'ave a few over 30." Cutter said, nodding out at the men who were scrambling about like ants. He figured that if they split the men in half they would have enough to run both vessels smoothly. He wasn't sure about Emma's plan it seemed risky to him; but he'd support her.

"Good, good. Mr. Cutter, are there any men that you would recommend to the overseeing of The Jewel of the Realm?" The only person in Emma's mind to do it was Cutter, but she needed him here to help her. She depended on his good advice and sense of humor.

"Marcus, he's a good lad." Cutter said, pointing him out to Emma. Marcus was quietly watching over the activity on deck while completing his own tasks. He was a quiet sailor and Emma had yet to hear him speak more than 10 words put together. He had always seemed loyal to her and had never once questioned an order -at least not publicly-, he knew how a ship worked and his orders were always followed to the letter.

"Agreed Mr. Cutter, would you mind informing him of his...promotion per say. Tell him he may pick anyone he wishes to be his second, with the exception of you."

"Aye, aye Captain."

"Now, let's give these navy boys some hell!" Emma's voice carried over the ship, "Fire!" and another volley of warning shots were fired once again falling just short of the Jewel. "Mr. Cutter, once we're in range fire some grape shots! I want as many of those navy men out of the running before we board!"

"Aye!" He scurried off to follow Emma's orders as she looked on. Her fingers white against the spyglass in her hands, this had to work. It HAD to.

"Hit the deck!" Killian cried, throwing himself to the rough wood as a shower of debris fell down on him. Yes, this pirate was definitely different from others he had fought before he thought irritably to himself. He got up with some difficulty before surveying the damage around him. Everything that could have possibly gone bloody wrong on his ship had during this fight. Several of his men lay unconscious and bleeding with bits and pieces of timber strewn about the ship. Fifteen minutes into the fight and he was losing, miserably. The Raven Saint merely circled around them as they got off a few good shots while his crew was scrambling with to keep up on their end. It never seemed like they never gained any real ground.

Killian spotted William barking orders out to a few sailors as they scrambled to prepare another volley. "I thought you said these pirates were different!" He yelled about the noise and chaos.

William cast him a look over his shoulder and called back, "Guess I was wrong, maybe she's in a bad mood today!"

Killian gave a hoarse laugh despite all the suffering around him and tried to rally the remaining men. But there was something this pirate had that his men didn't, purpose. His men were fighting because they were ordered to do so and often they won. However, to fight against someone with a cause driving them on...it was more than difficult.

"Captain! They're looking to board us!" A young cabin boy's frantic cry drew Killian's attention to the looming ship. They had changed their angle and were now coming up alongside them. He looked at his men, they were battered and bruised. He didn't know what this pirate had in mind but surely to surrender would be in their best interest. Wasn't it?

"Let them come." He sighed, throwing down his sword. This was a fight they could not win, at least...not yet.

Emma swung over to The Jewel of the Realm, her hat firmly on her head she landed with a thud. Looking up, she eyed the damage; it was extensive but they could get her sailing. The deck was littered with debris and unconscious sailors lay here and there, being tended to by their friends. Emma made a mental note to take the extremely wounded over to her ship and have them seen to by the ships "doctor".

"I'm looking for your captain." Her voice rang out strangely loud in the silence following the echoing of cannons.

"That would be me." A man strode across the deck, hair as dark as a ravens' wing fell into his eyes that were blue as the water all around them.

"You put up a good fight." Emma's voice continued to ring out loud and clear. Her men stood behind her, waiting for her orders. As she looked into the man's eyes she couldn't help but sense there was more to him, that they shared something. She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts that made her mind cloudy and continued to watch him.

"As did you, m'lady. The name is Killian Jones...Captain of this king's ship "The Jewel of the Realm". But the question is...who are you?"

Emma's voice froze in her throat. This wasn't the man that she was expecting. She needed it to be Liam Jones, the King's prized captain. Explanations would be in order and sooner than later. Gathering herself together, she threw back her head and gave him her best smirk.

"Why my dear Captain, I'm the Black Swan and this is my ship now."