Chapter 1

20 YEARS LATER

"You're late," August stated as Emma sat down at the booth he'd been saving in the back of a dusty tavern just outside of the forest. Emma was supposed to meet him there at sunset, but as usual she had sauntered into the dark tavern a half an hour later.

August had saved them a booth in a dark corner of the tavern out of sight to ensure their privacy. His goal was to keep Emma out of the public eye as much as he could.

"According to my watch," Emma began, slipping the hood of her cloak from her head, "I'm early." Her blonde hair pooled around her face as she reached for the mug of ale waiting for her on the table.

August rolled his eyes and sighed, "And how did 'The Navigator' fare today?" Emma smirked at the mention of her moniker and took a sip of the ale. "Why don't you see for yourself?" she asked as she dropped a small sack of coins onto the table.

"Not bad," August commented, examining the coins inside. "Not bad?!" Emma scoffed, pulling the bag from August's hands. "There are 50 gold and 10 silver coins in here!" she said, shaking the bag to prove her point.

August raised an eyebrow and lifted the mug of ale to his lips. "And just what did you have to do to earn a wage like that?"

Emma shrugged. "I helped a few of the Sherriff's men through an ogre infested part of the Sherwood Forest to help them track down a wanted thief."

"Did you run into any trouble?" August asked. Again, Emma shrugged, "I just had to fight off a few loose bandits and settle a score with one pissed off ogre. Nothing I haven't seen before."

Emma's "adventures" as August would call them, entailed her traversing through the forest to various locations, guiding men who couldn't do it themselves. Most of the time though, she was saving those men's asses. The Sherwood Forest was one of the most dangerous in the land, but Emma was an expert at navigating its terrain and fighting off its dangerous creatures. Her expertise led to her moniker "The Navigator" and gave her an excellent way of earning a decent wage.

August sighed as he set down his mug of ale. "Well I'm glad you made it back safe."

"I've told you before August, you don't have to worry about me when I'm on a job. Besides, you're the one who taught me how to navigate and fight my way through the Sherwood Forest."

"Emma it's not that I doubt your abilities," August said, "I know you are fully capable of defending yourself, but I can't help but worry about you. After all, you're basically my little sister."

"I know, I know. But somebody has to be the bread winner in this little family," Emma smirked as she took another swig of the ale.

August chuckled and finished off his mug of ale in one swift gulp. "So I trust The Navigator is free for the night? Or does she have another adventure scheduled for after hours?"

Emma rolled her eyes as she finished off her ale. August knew she never began a journey in the forest after sunset. To do so would be suicide. August chuckled. "Would you like another round of ale?"

Emma smiled and nodded, her mind wandering off to what she had heard from the Sheriff's men earlier that afternoon. They had told her about a woman that looked just like her as they made their way through the ogre territory.

"Could've been your very own mother!" one of the men had exclaimed. "She fights like you too," another had said.

Could that woman be her mother? Was her mother even still alive? Why had she abandoned her so long ago? Shouldn't she try to find her? Emma's mind continued to race until she was stirred out of her thoughts when August returned with more ale and asked, "Emma, are you alright?"

"I think I may have a clue to finding my parents," she blurted, unable to stop herself. "Well….at least my mother."

August's eyebrows shot towards his hairline in surprise. "And just what makes you think that?"

"Well the men I was helping through the forest today mentioned a woman that looked just like me. They even mentioned that she fights like me," Emma said.

"How does that have anything to do with her being your mother?" August asked. "Those are some very miniscule details that could mean nothing."

"I know but don't you think I should look into it? I mean, come on August! What if that woman is my mother?" Emma asked desperately.

August sighed. "Emma," he said gently, "Are you really so desperate that you would believe some of the Sheriff's drunk men?"

August looked at her with the tenderness of an older brother and Emma couldn't help but sigh in defeat. She knew the idea was far-fetched but she couldn't help but long for the parents she never knew. All she wanted was closure but for all she knew her parents were dead.

"You're right," Emma said in defeat. "It was a little desperate. I just want to know who I am."

"You're Emma Swan. My little sister and partner in crime," August replied. Emma rolled her eyes and chuckled, "You're impossible."

August smiled at her and picked up his mug of ale in a toast. "Happy Birthday Emma."

They clinked their classes together and brought the mugs to their lips. "Thanks August," Emma smiled. "Some birthday huh? 25 and still a desperate orphan."

August sighed. "Look Emma, I don't want you to lose hope. I'm fairly confident that someday you will find your parents. I just think you need to go about it in a way that doesn't involve the men you work with. Especially if those men are the Sheriff's men."

"I know I just…..Ah!" Emma's hand flew to her collarbone as a burning pain begun to pulse within the birthmark located there.

Emma had never had any troubles with the birthmark on her collarbone. The mark was the shape of a swan the size of a gold coin. The unique mark was the reason August had called her Emma Swan when he found her wandering around the forest 20 years earlier. Until today, she had never been bothered by its presence but at midnight that night she had woken up to a burning sensation pulsing within it. The pain dulled a while later but throughout that day the pain had come back, stronger each time.

"Emma what's wrong?" August asked worriedly, leaning over to take a closer look.

"Oh it's nothing. It's just this birthmark it's been burning periodically all day and now the burning is back and it's stronger this time," Emma said, rubbing her throbbing collarbone.

"What?" August said confusion coloring his voice. "Let me take a look at it."

"August it's fine really," Emma said.

"Emma. Let me see it." August said with a note of finality in his voice.

"Fine," Emma said as she brushed her hair back to expose her collar bone.

"But I really don't know why you are making a big deal out of…...what the hell?" Emma exclaimed, looking down at her birthmark.

August sucked in a breath when he caught sight of it. The normally light pink colored mark was a glowing white.

"I have no idea why it's like that. It's been normal all day besides the burning. What the hell?" She said again, poking at the mark.

"Damn it," August whispered to himself as realization struck. It was Emma's 25th birthday. This was THE birthday that the Seer had said was so important. Today, Emma had reached magical maturity and the strange burning of her birthmark was the indicator of that maturity. August had hoped that her magic wouldn't set in so quickly. But it had and now it was time to tell Emma who she really was and what she was meant to do.

As he looked over at the preoccupied Emma, his heart broke. He was now going to have to give up the only family he had had since his father died when he was 10. He knew that he shouldn't be selfish that way, but he couldn't help himself. Emma was finally going to know the truth about herself and the family that she had dreamed about for so long. Yet August still wanted to take her away and hide.

10 years ago, when the Seer brought Emma to the Sherwood Forest, August had recently lost his father to a horrible ogre attack on his village. Alone and afraid, he had taught himself to navigate and survive in the forest. When the Seer appeared with Emma, he had been excited for a chance to care for someone and he had grown to love Emma as his own sister. He had practically raised her in the forest and they had become a family.

But he knew this day would come. He had always known that Emma was meant to be a Savior to her true family and her kingdom.

It was time to tell Emma who she really was. August's only worry was Emma's fury. She was going to be livid when she found out that he had been hiding the truth from her for all these years.

But with her magic ready, the time had come. August took a deep breath and began. "Emma," he said, trying to draw her attention away from her birthmark.

She looked up at him, giving him her full attention.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Ok…." Emma said, worry evident in her voice at the solemn tone August had taken.

"I….." August paused to muster up the courage he needed to finish his confession. "Emma, I know who you are."

Emma looked at him in utter confusion. "Ok? We just established that I'm 'Emma Swan, your little sister and partner in crime'," she said, mocking his previous words.

"No. Emma. I mean I know who you really are," August said.

"What the hell are you talking about August?" Emma asked all hints of teasing gone.

"I can't tell you here," he said looking around the tavern. Although there were only two other people in the tavern, he didn't want to risk anything by telling Emma the truth there.

"August. Seriously. You're making me nervous. What the hell is going on?" Emma said, frustration coloring her tone.

August sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get Emma to go anywhere unless he divulged a little bit of information then and there.

He leaned across the table towards Emma and whispered, "You said you wanted to know who you are. Well I know who you really are. Your name is Emma Charming and you are the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White. You are the product of true love, and you possess great magic that will help you to save your parents and your kingdom."

Emma sat back stunned into silence. She just stared at August as she tried to process everything he had just told her. Once she had, the fury set in. "August, this better be one hell of a joke."

"Emma. I'm not lying to you. It's all true and I will tell you all about it if you'll just listen. But I can't tell you here. We have to go someplace private to make sure you are safe."

Emma leaned forward until she was merely inches from August's face. "So my entire life has been a lie?" she hissed, fury dripping from every word.

"Not necessarily," August began in a desperate attempt to make her understand. "You really are a sister to me and I do love you. I just couldn't tell you the truth until your 25th birthday for reasons I will explain later."

"Like hell," she spat. "You are going to tell me everything. Now." She sat back up and folded her arms, waiting for an explanation.

"Emma," August begged. "I promise I will tell you everything. I just can't do it here. Please trust me."

"And why should I? You've lied to me for TWENTY years!" Emma exclaimed in utter fury.

"I haven't lied to you!" August exclaimed in frustration, "I've just withheld the truth."

Emma just stared at him, arms crossed, with fury blazing in her eyes. She knew she was hurting August but she was just so damn furious at him for hiding the truth from her. She needed an outlet for her anger and he was the perfect target.

"Listen, Emma. Your family needs you and I just need you to trust me enough to hear me out. Then you can go back to hating me, leave, and never see me again," August begged.

With that, all of Emma's resolve slipped away. She didn't want him to think that she would just leave him, but she was angry with him.

"Fine," Emma whispered in defeat. "Let's talk."

And with that Emma dropped a few coins onto the table, lifted her hood over her head, and strode out of the tavern with August following closely behind.