Author's Note: So this chapter moves a bit back in time so any questions about Emma can be somewhat answered. Mostly how she lived after that fall and what she did afterwards. Chapter 6 will pick up from where Chapter 4 left off, the willful Princess/Huntress at the mercy of Regina...or maybe the other way around. ;-) Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Thanks to everyone that is reading, reviewing, favoriting or putting this story on alert. :-)

Chapter 5
'A Bounty Hunter Like No Other'

-Emma's Return-
-Past-

Emma stood from the table as everyone began to disband. Everyone asked how her trip had been, how Queen Uberta's kingdom was, and how Prince Derrick faired. It seemed they all had high hopes of her marrying the Prince. She would break it to them easily, or as easily as she could. She would not be marrying Prince Derrick.

Besides, she didn't have time to think of marriage. There was a new bounty put forth for the entire Kingdom and she wasn't about to miss her chance in hunting down the world renowned Evil Queen.

So what if her parents had no idea she moon lighted as a bounty hunter? They'd find out sooner or later, maybe even learn of it when she brought them the woman who'd caused them both so much pain. Emma knew her kingdom, the enchanted, the forbidden forest, even Red Riding Hood's Wood like the back of her hand. She was the best choice for this mission, and she'd be successful. Finding people is what she did better than anything.

Being a good little Princess just wasn't what she was made for. She knew that her destiny held so much more in store for her than being some man's wife. Her heart was driven by the excitement of adventure, the thrill of the hunt, and the shrill of fear and danger.

What kind of adventure would she have as some man's trophy wife? None! Which is why she rejected Prince Derrick. It would be why she rejected the next suitor and the next after that. Let her die an old maid, she had too many plans for her life to be tied down by marriage, even if she was still more than interested in her happily ever after. She wasn't sure that she could find that here or anywhere inside a castle as a wife.

Now…how would she sneak out of the castle grounds without being seen?

-Regina's Return-
-Past-

The scream that leaves the huntress' lungs speaks of her true fear and youth. Enough so that something must have called out to the evil witch because with only fifty feet left to fall, she stops her plummet towards the rocks.

Instead she floats away from the open mouth of the waterfall and to the brown silt covered crest of the river. Her boots touch down and as she looks up, she sees the billowing red and black cape of the witch. The same witch that had saved her. Twice.

She had been right. The witch had gone soft, too soft.

Watching as the black and red cape disappeared into the mist she wondered how it'd sewn itself back together. It was the same cape that had blocked her line of sight of the witch only an hour ago. Curious, she wonders if the witch had only needed to bide her time and store her magic before using it against her. Otherwise she too would have easily been trapped within the thorns of the witch's craft back at one of the many entrances into the dark forest.

Staring up at the ledge the huntress watches as the mist once again covers the entire area and the former Evil Queen is lost to her. Laughing, the blonde shakes her head. Yes, the Queen had in fact gone soft.

So soft in fact that she felt a pang of…guilt?...burn in her chest. She'd only taken this job up because she wanted to be the one to kill the notoriously cruel and dark witch. She wanted the glory of ending the existence of someone as evil as Regina the Evil Queen of the Dark Forest. Now it seemed that all the tales had been false. There had been nothing evil or even unkind in the witch's eyes. There had been a moment where she had feared the queen would in fact let her fall, but then something shifted. Something changed and whatever had been there before disappeared, and before she knew what was going on she had been pulled up by nothing but the wind?

Sighing, the huntress looked away from the waterfalls misty ledge. There was a lot of ground to cover and less time to do so before the sun set. Now that the witch was back in full power she was keen on getting out of her domain as quickly as possible. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain why she was picking thorns out of her arms or legs when she finally arrived home. Especially with the ball the King and Queen were holding in two nights.

Shaking her head, she started her long walk back towards the Enchanted Kingdom. Looking down at her broken bow she touched her sore chest and flinched as she touched the already discolored bruise. The wound rested where the wood of her bow had cracked. She'd have to purchase another one and buy fletching's to make more arrows as almost all of hers had been lost in her spill up on that ledge. No matter, she had the coin to buy more supplies, she just hadn't the time to do so now.

As she made her way through the forest she kept alert, her muscles twinning as she waited and looked around each turn carefully. The last thing she needed was to be chased by wolves, giants or knombs…again. The knombs were always a killer as she was rather tall for a woman. She never saw them coming until one of them had a grab of her leg.

Standing at 5'10 she could look like a short thinly man when she put up her cape to hide her feminine features, the long blonde hair soft sleek cheek bones and her chest size, all things that couldn't be ignored if seen.

Seeing a brief flash of light she turned in the direction and found one of her many knives. Walking towards the object she pulled it from the trees bark, the mark left behind red and angry. Frowning she touched her hand to the wound and offered her apologies to the elder tree before making her way silently through the forest. Thankfully she had left a trail of knives, daggers, and arrows in her wake to help her find a way out of this maze. Who needed breadcrumbs?

Each dagger she retrieved and knife she slipped back into its holster made her realize how grateful she was that they had not hit the woman she'd chased for nearly two hours. Had any of them truly met their mark she would have never known just how mistaken she had been about the witch.

No matter the stories that were told. The witch had not killed any of them, of her own hunters. Not a one of the two dozen bounty hunters set on having her head. She'd simply put obstacles in their way, in her way. Given the thorn weeds would be a nasty feet for those that got stuck in them to recover from, but they weren't deadly, just a pain in the ass. All the toppled trees, dropped branches and raised roots were meant to slow down, not kill. They easily could have been used to murder or seriously injure, but they hadn't been. They were tests, tests that only she had surmounted passed, to the surprise of the witch and maybe herself as well. She was good, very good, but even she had her doubts about how she'd apparently dodged all the fallen branches and raised roots.

Whoever this woman was, she was not the same careless witch that the legends spoke of. There was weariness in her gaze that the huntress had never suspected to find. There had been anger and frustration as well, but there was a deep sadness. Perhaps she'd thought to return so many years later she could atone for her actions. It was impossible of course, not after all she'd done, but still. Those eyes, they haunted each and every step she took.

Finding the break in the tree line she stepped out onto the road, she'd made good time. There was just enough time for her to stop by The Watering Hole. Not her favorite place, especially when there was a good bounty out and eager young bounty hunters trying to make a name for themselves. This couldn't be helped. If she didn't go there now she'd have to wait another week before getting her bow mended. A week she didn't feel like being without her bow.

Bringing her fingers to her lips she blew, the whistle cutting through the air. She kept walking down the road for a bit before Destiny, her white mare ran up beside her. Grinning, she mounted her horse and raced towards the edge of the Enchanted Kingdom and the start of the Magical Kingdom, there along the borders was a town of misfit gamblers, drunks, hunters, and all around dark and creepy henchmen. A place she felt at home.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The rowdy obnoxious laughter the emanated through the musky stench ridden pub assaulted her nose the moment the door opened. She was accustomed to such a stink now that she'd come to the Watering Hole more than a dozen or so times. What truly bothered her was how her clothing still reeked after she left the confines of the pub.

Keeping herself away from the brawl that was taking place in the left corner she pushed and shoved her shoulder against anyone that got in her way. The first time she'd entered this place she'd been pushed and shoved so easily that she couldn't count how many bruises she found on her legs, chest, and arms the next day. It was a test. The men here didn't get out of your way unless you proved that you were tough enough to. So, if any of these men were to realize just who was shoving them out of the way or stomping on their boots as she passed, they wouldn't just let her pass with a clap on the shoulder or jut of their head in greeting.

She always kept her hood up. No one bothered her enough to put it down so they could see her face. Some patrons knew she was a woman, having copped an unsuspecting feel in their push and shove match. Those that did stopped commenting on it after she'd dropped a man three times her size. Oh, it hadn't been easy, and she'd had to blame the shiner she'd garnered from the incident on Destiny head butting her on one of her rides, but she'd done it. She learned quickly how to make it on this side of the kingdom and she hadn't looked back since.

Taking a seat at the bar she slapped a silver coin on the table, immediately gaining the attention of the barmaid. She was a well-endowed woman with a bright smile, in her late forties with a filthy mouth and an attitude to match any of the men here when pushed. She was also a very sweet woman that she enjoyed talking with.

"Well, it's been a while since I've seen you around these parts, Green." She'd gained the name Green due to her dark forest green cloak, and her refusal to give her real name. Most of the folks around here didn't care that she never gave them her real name. Most of them didn't give up their real names either and this establishment was one of the few places where anonymity wasn't frowned upon.

"Was traveling." Was her simple answer.

"Have fun?"

She laughed, did she have fun? "I suppose I had a little. Not much however."

"Oh, that's a shame." Cleaning the countertop before them with a rag, the silver coin now in her pocket, Mandy looked at her with a smile. "What can I get for you?"

"I'll take a cider, please."

Mandy laughed at her request, Green was the only one to ever ask politely for anything. She went to fill up the wooden pint she'd grabbed from under the counter.

The thump of a heavy weight falling onto the surface of the stool beside the blonde caught her attention. "So, you hear about the new bounty put up?" She looked down at her feet, feeling something nudge against her booted foot. She smiled at the sight of the grey wolf. Reaching down she pet his head, the older man beside her smiling as he looked from her to the wolf.

"I heard." She looked away from the fur she was scratching to the hooded man beside her. "Anyone claim the reward yet?" She played dumb, easy enough when her face couldn't be seen beneath her hood.

"No." He seemed happy about that. "Not that anyone will. No one is going to fulfill that bounty." Looking to Graham, she nodded her head. If anyone should know the capabilities of the evil witch it was him. After all, for years he'd lived as one of her many drones, the Heartless. That gave him firsthand experience and knowledge. He was nothing but her pawn back then, but surprisingly he seemed to have a soft spot for the woman even after being trapped under her control.

Everyone in the pub kept away from him, and honestly she had tried to stay away from him too. He wasn't exactly the friendliest of people. Or hadn't been. Before he'd saved her from an angry pack of wolves on one of her few off days, he hadn't said a word to her. It was only after she'd confided in him who she was—as she'd needed medical attention he couldn't provide after he'd saved her—that he seemed to soften around her. He'd warned her not to get caught up in the Wolf's Wood again as he'd deposited her at the outpost of the Enchanted Kingdom a year ago. She hadn't listened, obviously.

He hadn't been happy to find her sitting around in the Watering Hole only a few weeks after her accident. He'd threatened to tell her parents what she did on her 'long rides', but the threat was hollow. He wouldn't tell her parents what she did when they weren't looking just like she wouldn't tell her parents that he was still alive. It was a win-win for everyone. It also got her a friend that she could talk to, because before she'd proved herself around here, no one was very willing in giving up information.

Now, well now all she needed to do was buy someone a drink and they opened up like a fountain of knowledge. Everyone except Graham, he was still closed off to her in many ways. It was always like plying carpet up from the floor it'd been nailed down to, hard and agonizingly painful on ones muscles.

"You sure? I heard someone got pretty close today."

Graham turned to her, his stare sharp. He knew that what she was saying was that she had gotten close today. "Getting close is going to be their downfall. If they can't take her down from at least twenty feet away, they are going to fail."

"Why twenty feet?"

Graham sighed, his eyes falling to his four legged companion that was happily nudging his head into their friend's hand.

"Just, stay away from her." He warned, pulling his own cloak back up around his head and standing.

She grabbed a hold of his arm, stopping him. "Wait, why twenty feet?" She needed to know. What was so important about being twenty feet away from her?

He pulled his arm away from her and sighed, "Leave it alone…" His voice dropped, "Emma." He looked around them before meeting her face again. "She's not worth losing your life. If you keep it up, she will kill you. Just leave her alone, alright?"

Emma looked at Graham, her shoulders sagging a bit. "I make no promises."

"Fine, but don't expect me to come and save your ass when it's her holding your heart in her hand." He shifted uncomfortably, a hand moving to his scarred chest. If there was anyone who knew just how dangerous Regina could be, it was him.

"I wouldn't let myself get that close. You've seen me move, I'm faster than she'd give me credit for."

Graham shook his head, he didn't understand why Emma was so reckless. Not even Snow White was as reckless as her progeny, though with Prince James and Snow White mixed perfectly together, it was a wonder Emma had even lived this long. Trouble seemed to flock towards the blonde, or rather she flocked towards the danger. "And you're not giving her enough credit." He hissed, getting close enough that she could smell the tang of his breath.

Swallowing, she eased back a bit, raising her hands up in surrender. "Alright, maybe I'm not giving her enough credit. I'll keep myself as far away from her as I can."

"You do that, it'd be better that way. If she ever found out…" He looked around his voice dropping to a whisper once more, "…who you are you'd find it nearly impossible to break her spell."

Emma felt sweat cross her palms at the very idea of being stuck under the Evil Queen's spell. Maybe she already was under the witch's spell. Her opinion of the dark haired Queen had certainly changed drastically in the last few hours. She also had been close enough for the witch to look into her eyes, see her face and maybe even catch onto her fear. Fear that'd she done her best to hide behind sarcastic and witty responses to the witch's ire at her trying to kill her after she'd risked enough by saving her from that deadly fall.

Graham seemed to finally relax, the tension that he exhibited disappearing as he leaned away from Emma a bit. "It's good to know you're back."

"Yeah, good to be back." She called out to his retreating back, the wolf following closely behind.

"He's a weird one for ya." Mandy commented as she put her drink down on the counter top, having stayed away until Graham and his four legged friend had left.

"That he is…" And as much as she wanted to listen to him and leave the Evil Queen alone, she couldn't. She had to know more, there was something about that woman that captivated her already, and a small part of her wondered if she'd already gotten too close. Wondered if she was already under her spell.

No, she still wanted to collect on the bounty. She just wanted a few answers to some lingering questions before she did. That was all. Dispelling the idea of being a victim of the witch's spells she looked to Mandy.

Mandy could offer her the answers she was after. "What have you heard about this new bounty?"

Mandy laughed shaking her head, "Not something you want to get mixed up in. Mostly the only ones stupid enough to go after the reward are the newbies trying to make a name for themselves. Everyone else is sticking clear away from it. No one wants to be on her bad side. I suggest you follow their lead and stay away from it. Let the royals deal with her. She never was one to go after commoners. Actually, I'm hoping that now that she's back the crime in this area will start to go down again."

Emma raised her brow as she took her first sip of the hard cider. "Why would the crime go down?" Wouldn't it go back up now that she was back? Wouldn't people feel safer in disrupting the peace that had settled across the land or most of it? Places, villages like this one, ones that bordered the kingdoms always seemed to be plagued with crime, ranging from petty theft to murder and kidnapping.

Mandy laughed again, "My, you really are young." Mandy wasn't as old as she liked to think she was, but she was at least two times Emma's age, so she would have been alive while the Evil Queen still resided in this land. "Well, someone is going to have to tell you one way or another. It might as well be me." Mandy looked around their surroundings, noting that the other barmaids had the crowd covered, and made sure no one was listening before she continued.

"As much as the Royals and the lords and ladies and the pricks of these kingdoms like to condemn her, she was actually a welcome tyrant around these parts. She has a soft spot for kids and small villages. Any village with her sworn protection usually ended up prospering, crime fell and life for the most part got better. It was only when you went against her that she fought back. The commoners she did attack usually were responsible for breaking the laws that she was in charge of maintaining. She may have been a tyrant but she was fair when it came to her Kingdom. She also stuck her neck out for villages like this one. You know as well as I do that these border villages aren't as nice as those found further in the kingdom. A lot of that has to do with the way criminals pass through the borders easily but it also has a lot to do with the rulers of the Kingdoms themselves. Many still fighting over which part of the land is their responsibility, so which one the village owes its tribute and who needs to protect it. Usually, we're just overlooked."

Emma knew this to be true. Her mother and father were constantly in discussion with Cinderella and Alexandra on whose land these villages were actually on. Many of them crossed over the borders, so they were stuck. Did one half pay taxes to Cinderella and Alexandra or did they pay it to her parents? It was an ongoing discussion that was never settled, just like Mandy said.

"You don't see any royal battalions coming to our aid or comin' with food from the coffers from the palaces when the droughts hit and half the village set aflame during that lightning storm last summer." Mandy bitterly recalled. Emma had been the first to arrive on the scene after she'd heard about the fire. She had brought two or three guards with her, plain clothed, so they wouldn't be attacked. Hostilities were high towards the Royals last summer, especially after that tragic fire. Ten dead and nearly a quarter of the village burned down to nothing but ash. Emma had been disgusted with her parents and Cinderella and Alexandra for not sending aid.

"No, we take care of ourselves here, and places like here, because no one else would." Emma nodded. "Except her. Damn the rest of the royals and aristocrats." Mandy fiercely proclaimed, getting a few stray stares at her before she quieted down a bit. "Sorry…sorry." Mandy didn't blush, but Emma could tell she was a bit embarrassed by her outburst. "She'd pick up the slack where the Kings and Queens and Lords failed. Maybe it was just to have easier access to get between the borders. Maybe it was just out of the goodness of her heart. Either way, her presence was always welcome so long as it meant her protection and assistance."

Emma couldn't really grasp the image that Mandy was trying to instill in her. She had been raised on horror stories about the Evil Queen, who never did anything for anyone unless it benefited herself. She was despised by other Royals and feared by everyone, rejected and renowned as being cruel and unforgiving. Yet, Mandy talked about her as if she were some kind of savior.

Mandy sighed wistfully, most likely reliving what her village was like twenty years ago while it was protected by the Evil Queen. "I heard a lot of older folks around here are even thinking of going back to work for her now that she's looking."

Looking around the Watering Hole Emma's brow scrunched in thought as she wondered if to these people the Evil Queen was a savoir. According to Mandy she helped the people that not even her parents would consider helping, thinking them a lost cause or too corrupt to be saved. Much like how they viewed the Queen herself.

Emma knew that none of these people paid taxes, and she knew that many of them were wanted fugitives but she also knew that some of these people were the most genuine, caring, and gracious people she'd ever met. Maybe not all of them here in the Watering Hole but around the pub were two villages that had some of the best crafters Emma had ever met along with the sweetest people.

"Green, you feeling well?" Mandy asked pulling Emma from her thoughts.

"Yes, yes, I was just thinking what the Evil Queen could need workers for."

Mandy laughed, "She's got a castle to run, and as I imagine a Kingdom to start rebuilding. That takes a lot of work, a lot more than running a pub." She teased, patting Emma's hand.

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Of course I'm right." Mandy huffed, as if hearing she was wrong would be such a travesty. "If you're interested I can put in a good word for you. She doesn't just accept anyone. There's a long process to weed out traitors and spies."

"Oh, and how could you put in such a good word for me?" Emma asked curious. Taking a gulp from the pint she nearly spit it out at her acquaintances answer.

"My mother and I used to work in her castle. My mother was her seamstress and I worked in the kitchens. But now I've got my own place to look after." Mandy sounded almost disappointed about that, even as looked across the most popular pub in this area, her pub.

"You…you know where her castle is?" Her parents had searched for years but had never found the castle, and now knowing how some of the people respected the Queen, any willing servant would probably never say anything against her. Even Graham wouldn't say anything, and he hadn't been a willing servant.

Did the people fear her that much? Or was it really respect that kept them silent?

"No one knows where the castle is, she's not stupid. For fucks sake, Green you think she wants her throat slit in the middle of the night? No, no, she's got that place enchanted. You want to get to the castle you got to meet her in a neutral zone first. No one just gets to know where it is, and even on a map I couldn't tell you what grid of the dark forest it was in."

"But you've met her before?" Emma was mystified, she shouldn't be. After all she too had met the woman and even drawn her blood, but something about actually knowing her before intrigued Emma.

"In passing. I wasn't friends with her. I worked for her. I did my job and kept away from her. Just like she wanted. She's a private person. Besides, she pays pretty damn well. How else do you think I could have afforded to build this pub?" Mandy walked away for a moment wiping the counter of the remnant shells from the peanuts and nuts the others sitting at the counter left. When she came back Mandy looked Emma up and down. "So…you want me to put in that word for you or not?"

Seeing that there were other customers coming up to the bar, and the other two women were busy, Emma knew her conversation was coming to an end. Pulling out another silver coin she put it on the counter for Mandy and shook her head. "No, not yet. I'll let you know."

"You do that, but you better hurry up. Those spots are going to fill up pretty quick. Lots of people are looking to get back in with her."

"I will…" Emma promised as she finished her cider and left the pub. She had her answers and her bow was being mended. She'd be back in a week, and by then she'd have Mandy's answer.

After all, she might only need one more time to get the witch exactly where she wanted her. Yes, she was still thinking about fulfilling the bounty, even if a larger part of her knew that even if given the chance she'd be unable to kill the woman.

Not after she'd saved her, twice. Emma wasn't that heartless. Determined, independent, strong, and hot headed yes, but she was never cruel or ungrateful.

Should she meet with the witch in a neutral zone, the moment she put down her hood she'd only have a split second to make her move. What that move would be, Emma wasn't exactly sure yet, but she had time to think about it.

She had something more pressing to worry about now. The ball for her eighteenth birthday was tomorrow evening and knowing her parents every eligible bachelor in the Kingdom, no, in several Kingdoms would be there looking for a dance or a chance to chat. All hoping to find they were her happily ever after.

Mounting Destiny she started her ride back to the White Castle. Her mind filled with possibilities and scenarios that hadn't even existed four hours ago, many around the thrilling idea that somewhere in the crowd of the ball she'd find a hiding cloaked witch who'd ask her to dance.

End Chapter Five