Chapter 2

Emma raced through the palace halls and the door to the gardens as she headed towards the stables. She was almost across the balcony when she was scooped up into a pair of strong arms wrapped in sun-warmed leather.

"Whoa, whoa… where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Daaaaaaaddy…" Emma said, giggling as she squirmed from her father's arms, "Let go!"

"Now, I just want you to be careful…" David's tone was firm but kind. Emma was always running a mile a minute and David was terrified that no matter how closely he watched her something was bound to happen. Emma was clearly distracted this morning as a blue butterfly caught her eye and she began to chase after it. He wrapped his hand around hers, "Emma, are you listening?"

Emma stopped and faced her dad, "I know, I know… I could get hurt, or lost, or worse. Don't talk to strangers. And if anything happens, come straight home. Can I go now? Please?"

"Mind your father, Emma," Snow said, floating across the balcony.

"Yes mom…"

"And stay on the marked trails. I don't want you wandering off into the Dark Forest," David said, firmer than before. "Those forests are filled with the remainder of James' followers. They can't be trusted…"

"Why not?" Emma asked, honest curiosity distracting her from her plans to ride through the kingdom.

"Never mind. Just run along now," David urged Emma toward the stables, "You'll understand someday."

"Fine…" Emma said, hugging her parents and darting off again.

Snow's charming laughter softly met David's ear, "Now, David, who does she remind you of? Hmm?"

"Huh…? What?" David turned to his wife with honest ignorance, "Who?"

"She's just like you were when you were young. Adventurous, curious…"

"Reckless! This is exactly what I'm worried about, Snow. Think of all the trouble we got ourselves in."

Snow shoved her husband gently, "You mean the trouble you got us in." She placed her soft hands on his stubbly cheeks and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "David, she'll be fine. Now, come on. It's not every morning we have a few hours of alone time."

David knew that look. "I'm right behind you," he said, a knowing smile creeping over his lips where hers had just been. And with that Snow went back inside to 'go back to bed'.

David knew he was over protective, but Emma was young and way more like him than he'd have ever wanted. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

Emma loved the feeling she got when she was galloping over the fields on her horse, Phoenix. The wind in her face and her golden hair flying around her, it was freedom. No rules of propriety, no over protective parents, anything could happen!

Just as Emma began to close her eyes and imagine she was soaring above it all, Phoenix balked and the young Princess was thrown to the ground. Emma rarely ever fell. Like her mother, she had a seat that would make one believe she'd been born in the saddle. And Phoenix didn't spook easily. Emma had been given her palomino as a birthday gift when she was five. She raised the foal, and trained him as her very own. She was ten now, and this was the first time she'd been thrown without an obvious threat like a snake or a falling tree branch.

Emma got up and brushed herself off, "Whoa, Phoenix. Easy boy!" But her words and calming tone were no success. Phoenix reared up and bolted back towards the palace. "Phoenix!" Emma yelled, but it was no use. "What in the world has gotten into that horse?" She sighed, and examined the tear in her blue tunic. "Perfect!" She exclaimed sarcastically, realizing how crazy she'd look if there were anyone around to see her talking to herself. It was only when she stopped to take in her surroundings and chart out the fastest way home that she realized how far from home she had gotten. There, not twenty feet away, was the opening to the Dark Forest.

Her heart was racing. Everything she'd ever been taught told her to run in the opposite direction as fast and far as she could. Bt she'd always wanted to know what made the Dark Forest so forbidden. Other than the thorny vines blocking out the sunlight and the crows cawing replacing the sweeter, more melodic chirping she was used to, it didn't seem so bad…

Just then, a twig snapped from inside the darkness. Emma froze. Could this be one of the former followers of her father's uncle, James Hook? She remembered her father had told her to never turn her back on one of these outcasts. So instead she stood her ground, drew the dagger from her boot and with her head held high and as much courage as she could muster, she called out, "You in there, show yourself!"

She could hear more rustling. "I mean it! Face me, you coward!"

With a series of crackling branches, a boy, not much older than Emma herself slowly sauntered out into the light. He was taller than Emma, pale with dark messy hair. "Bold to call someone a coward when you can't keep your voice from trembling…" the boy said with a smirk.

"My parents taught me how to fight! I'm not afraid of you." Emma wasn't sure if she was lying or not. She was certain that she could take him one on one in a fencing class, but this was no class and she wasn't even sure they were alone.

"Relax, I have no interest in dueling you," the boy was close enough now to look Emma in the eye. "I just want to get back to exploring. Preferably without the knife in my back." His blue eyes flashed, as he got a little closer still.

"Who are you?" Emma demanded. "Are you an outcast?"

"Seems you are in my territory, and I should be asking the questions…" he replied, trying to sidestep around the young girl who was so passionately assertive.

Emma swiveled, turning so they were face to face again. Now raising her blade, and finding a bit more resolve in her voice, "I'll only ask once more, who are you?"

The boy stopped and weighed his options, "Killian. My name is Killian. I was just out for a walk; I meant you no harm. Sorry if I spooked you," he said with a genuine smile. He was impressed with the young courtier's spirit.

"You spooked my horse, not me," Emma said indignantly.

"My apologies, to you and your horse…" Killian waited to calculate his next move. As the girls face softened a bit, he hesitantly asked, "Any chance I might get your name as to make a more formal apology?"

Emma raised an eyebrow at Killian. He had nerve; she'd give him that. "Emma. My name is…"

"Emma, step away from that boy!" David bellowed as he rode up, blocking her with his horse's flanks.

"Killian! Come here!" A sharp cutting voice came from thin air and with a puff of purple smoke, a beautiful, but vicious looking woman appeared wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulders.

"Cora!" David said, hatred and fear battling to control his tone.

"David!" Cora responded, a cold mix of hatred and opportunity coated her words, her predatory eyes lit up with excitement.

Fortunately Snow was only moments behind her husband and she had reinforcements in the form of their closest companions and guards.

"I see it's a family affair," Cora said, icily, but much less self-assured.

"Cora, you and the rest of the outlaws were banished to the Dark Forest when James was overthrown. You know the penalty for returning to the Enchanted Forest. You and the boy both need to get out." David's words were cutting, and his threat was anything but empty.

"Ah, I see you've met my youngest, Killian. He was hand chosen by James, or Hook, as you like to call him, to be his heir and become king. That is, before you banished us all into the darkness."

"Cora, I'm warning you. Take your son and go." David's anger was swelling in his chest. "This is over!" David yelled, as he lifted Emma and sat her in front of him on his horse.

"Oh no, David. This has barely begun." And with a dark, low cackle Cora peered deeply into Emma's eyes. With another cloud of smoke, the witch and the boy were gone, just like that.