AN: Oh, would you look at that, it's been more than a year since I've updated.

*laughs in pain*

I am so sorry you guys, I lost motivation and then the plot of my story was thrown off by developments in the ONCE timeline because hey! I started writing this during season one! That was ages ago!

So yeah I got lazy and didn't want to rework the plot and there's really no excuse.

However I do want to continue with this story and seeing as how I'm almost done with school I will try and make my updates more frequent.

That being said, enjoy this relatively short chapter!

Okay, something was definitely up.

Sure, the Pro Shakespearean wrestler wasn't exactly a chatterbox, but usually he'd have made some demands for his release by now. But . . . nothing. Not a peep. He just sat in his cell and . . . sulked.

Emma was tempted to ask him what was wrong, but she already knew she wouldn't get very many answers from this guy. He didn't like talking to her.

"I'm sorry."

Or so she thought.

Surprised, the sheriff swiveled her chair so she was facing the caged method actor, who sat on his bed with his head hanging towards the ground.

"Excuse me?" was what Emma said.

The man raised his head ever so slightly, a few blond wisps falling away from his face to allow his electric blue eyes to meet her bright green ones. The man hesitated for a moment, but then his deep, rumbling voice filled the room.

"I behaved in a rather . . . rash and rude manner when I first arrived. It was discourteous of me, as a guest, to treat you and your people that way, and I . . . apologize."

For a moment, Emma was stunned. This . . . this guy was for real. He was actually apologizing to her.

She didn't think he had enough considerateness to say 'bless you' when someone sneezed, much less apologize.

". . . well, thank you," the bewildered woman finally said. "Apology accepted."

A pause.

"You've still got a bit more time in that cell, though."

The man didn't seem too bothered by this information, though his head did hang a little lower.

There was then a period of uncomfortable silence, during which Thor sulked and Emma sat in her swivel chair not quite knowing what to do. Until . . .

"And they're not my people," she replied, looking awkwardly down at the morning paper.

The man raised his head again.

"I'm sorry?"

"They're not my people," Emma repeated. "Regina's the mayor of this town, not me."

Though Regina seemed to think Emma was out for her job . . .

"That woman holds no true sway over these villagers," Woah, the guy had suddenly seemed to come alive with some sort of . . . righteousness. "She came to power through deceit and betrayal, and once you have broken the curse they will see that."

Wait . . . what?

"Once I've what?" Emma exclaimed, turning to give the guy her full attention.

The man straightened, a sort of calm certainty in his eyes. "Once you've broken the curse and freed these people. You will need some training in order to prepare for your task, but I believe I can help teach you the art of the sword. And we'll need to find my hammer if we're to go against the Evil Queen-"

"Oh God, Henry got to you," Emma groaned, putting her face in her hands.

The man was silent for a moment, and when he next spoke, his voice was perplexed.

"You . . . do not believe?"

"Of course I don't," Emma's voice was filled with exasperation. "It's nuts. Fairytales don't exist, and neither do curses."

"But they do," the man was leaning forward now, his large hands grasping the bars eagerly. "I felt the darkness the moment I arrived in this town; something evil is afoot here."

"Yeah, well, you're not the most reliable of sources, pal," Emma wryly replied.

The man looked as if he wished to reply, but he was cut off by Mary Margaret skidding into the Sheriff's office.

"Emma! Oh, thank god you're here!" the woman's relieved sigh did little to quell her frantic behavior. "You have to come with me! There's these men from the government and they just drove into town and sectioned off part of the woods!"

"What?!" Emma immediately stood from her chair, an incredulous look on her face. "What are they doing here?"

Mary Margaret quickly shook her head. "I don't know, they won't let anyone near the site!"

Emma's brow creased in a deep frown, and she grabbed her leather jacket, the coat tree shaking a little from the force of Emma's snatch.

"Come on, I want to see these government agents."

"What about him?" Mary Margaret's voice broke Emma out of the determination that had taken hold of her, and she turned to look at Thor.

Oh, God, the way he was staring after her in confusion – along with the residual . . . sulkiness he'd had – made him look something like a giant kicked puppy.

"He's not going anywhere," was what she said instead.

Thor's expression didn't change, and Emma merely turned and walked out the door.

She really hoped for these government guys' sakes that she got to them before Regina did.

"What do you mean you can't tell me?! I'm the mayor of this town; you are on my property!"

"Actually ma'am, the records show that this land actually belongs to a Mr. Gold," Coulson's tone was that of complete and utter boredom. He'd dealt with people like her before, and this mayor scared him about as much as the last angry citizen had.

"Regardless, we have government orders to secure this site for excavation; that's all I can tell you."

The black-haired woman looked about ready to explode, Coulson was spared a tongue-lashing by another woman's shout.

"Hey!"

Sighing, the agent turned to face the blonde woman striding towards him. He noted immediately the sheriff's badge pinned to her jacket – along with the scowl that appeared on the mayor's face.

"What's going on here?" the sheriff asked, coming up to Coulson and the mayor with her hands on her hips.

"Thank you, Miss Swan, but I've got this covered," the mayor replied before Coulson had a chance to, her voice filled with venom.

"Clearly," was the sheriff's dry response. "You're always this pissed when you get your way."

This only fueled the mayor's anger, and she looked ready to tear the sheriff to shreds.

Luckily for them, Coulson didn't have time to deal with a cat fight, and he spoke up before the mayor could.

"Ma'am, just like I told the mayor here, I'm here on strict government business. We've secured this site only for excavation purposes, and promise to stay out of the rest of the town's way. Other than that there's not much to talk about."

Neither woman seemed pleased with the response, but the sheriff seemed to have enough control of her temper to nod.

"Alright, just try and keep your men out of trouble."

"Will do, sheriff."

The sheriff gave Coulson one last, narrow-eyed look before turning and walking away. The mayor seemed more reluctant to leave, but she must have decided a fight wasn't worth it, because she cast one last glare Coulson's way before leaving as well.

"Intriguing."

Coulson almost jumped out of his skin. Giving an angry exhale, he turned to face the goateed man who had appeared behind him.

"What is it, Strange?"

A small smile quirked on the sorcerer's lips. "Those women are on exact opposite ends of the same spectrum."

Great, more riddles.

In an attempt to keep his frustration under control, Coulson only gave another exhale.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Strange repeated, taking a small step forward as he looked at the retreating forms of the mayor and the sheriff. "That this town is far more interesting than I had originally thought."

This time, Coulson didn't try to hold back a groan. Great, just what they needed, more interesting.