Not Just a Pirate
Once Upon a Time
Prologue
Emma's P.O.V
Present time, in The Enchanted Forest.
It's a bright early morning in Misthaven, the sun is out already warming the earth. I'm wide awake and I have been for over an hour to excited to sleep. I have been waiting for this day for a very long time and now that it's finally here I intent on enjoying it to the fullest. A mix of emotions is filling my entire being love, excitement, joy, happiness, and a tad of nervosity.
I feel as my mother gather my long blonde hair and twist it into a loose ponytail on my back. My mother have been doing that ever since I was a little girl. Strangely, I still find it comforting all these years later. Not that I'd ever admit it, of course.
My mother has always been great at seeing right through me and know exactly what I'm feeling even if I don't know it myself. I have always loved my mother for that because I never had to tell her how I felt or what I needed, my mother just knew and provided just that.
It's true that I felt abandoned for many years of my childhood, but in this moment where it has all been cleared up I finally understood why and that it was necessary. I have always known my parents loved my even when I felt alone, but knowing the truth about what my parents were facing while I was growing up healed that broken part of my and allowed me to move on.
"Any cold feet sweetie?" Mother asks, her eyes shining with love.
"None." I say, no hesitation needed.
"Good."
"Did you think there would be?" I ask, surprised.
"No, I had the same light in my eyes the day I married your father." She beams at me.
"I never thought I'd have what you and my father has, but today I finally will." I say with the goofiest smile on my face.
…
Regina's P.O.V
28 years ago, in The Enchanted Forest.
"Who among us is tired of losing? That's why I called you here. To put an end to our misery." I say as I throw the ingredients onto the fire. "Today we claim victory and move to a new better realm. A Place where we can finally win."
"And we'll be happy?" One of those with the darkest souls asks.
"I guarantee it, but first I need something from you… A lock of hair from those with the darkest souls. You must trust me. Because if you don't, there are other ways." I smile in amusement as I use my magic to demonstrate what will happen if they refuse me. They all begin to collect their own hair all around me. "A wise decision." I say pleased as I collect the hair for my curse. "All there remains is the final ingredient. A priced heart. From my childhood steed. The glorious beast who's passing will fuel our victory… Let my wrath be unleashed." I say as I throw the heart onto the fire and my smile grows as the curse begins to enact, but as soon as it began it ended. It didn't work. A loud pinched laugh from the gnome is fueling up my rage.
"Yeah… You really unleashed something there." He says between laughing and I don't even hesitate as I turn him to stone. I turn my back on them and leave them there with my father hot on my heels.
"Maybe it's a sigh you shouldn't cast the curse. You should give up and finally end this." He pleads as he has many times before.
"Oh, I will end this." I snare at him. I use my magic to transport myself to the cell Rumpelstiltskin is being kept in.
...
"It's just us dearie… You can show yourself." He singsongs. I transport myself from a rat and back to being myself.
"That curse you gave me, it's not working." I say wanting an explanation.
"Oh so worried… So so worried… Like Snow and her lovely new husband." He singsongs, continuing to taunt me.
"What?" I ask.
"They paid me a visit as well." He says moving closer to the cell in front of him and hold on to it. "They were very anxious about you and the curse." He says, I move right into his personal space, my face right in front of his.
"What'd you tell them?" I ask.
"The truth, that nothing can stop the darkness… except of course their unborn child. You see no matter how powerful all curses can be broken and their child is the key, of course, the curse has to be enacted first." He taunts.
"Tell me what I did wrong." I demand.
"For that there is a price." He smiles, I should have known…
"What do you want?" I ask, tired of his deals.
"Simple, in this new land I want comfort, I want a good life." He begins and I interrupt him.
"Fine you'll have an estate, be rich." I say, but he interrupts me.
"I wasn't finished, there is more."
"There always is with you." I say, annoyed.
"Yeah… In this new land… Should I ever come to you for some reason, you must feed my every request. You must do whatever I say so long I say, please." He says with a grinning expression on his face.
"You do realize that should I succeed you won't remember any of this." I point out.
"Oh then, what's the harm." He asks.
"Deal." I say with an evil smile and he returns it. "What must I do to enact this curse?" I ask, my hatred surfaces.
"You have to sacrifice a heart." He says moving back mimicking with his hands what he's telling me.
"I sacrificed my prized steed." I say and before I can react he has jumped forward, his hands around my throat as he talks.
"A horse, this is the curse to end all curses, you think a horse is gonna do? Great power requires great sacrifice, now the heart you need must come from something far more precious." He says enjoying his riddles.
"Tell me what will suffice." I demand.
"The heart of the thing you love most." He whispers, I grab and remove his hand in anger.
"What I love most died because of Snow White." I say full of resentment.
"Hmm is there no one else you truly love?" He asks in a singsong voice. "This curse isn't gonna be easy. Vengeance never is, dearie… You have to ask yourself a simple question. How far are you willing to go?" He asks in a whisper.
"As far as it takes." I say.
"Then please stop wasting everyone time just do it… You know that you love, now go kill it." He whispers, our faces are less than an inch apart. I look over his face with cold empty eyes, I turn my back on him and walk away.
…
I've transported myself back to my castle, my steps are angry and full of frustration. My mirror calls to me. "What happened?" He says and I ignore him. "Did you get your answer?" He asks again as I keep walking, I need to gather my thoughts. "What's going on?" He asks following me through every mirror I pass. "Your majesty?" He asks, getting desperate. I continue walking into the room where I see my father lighting a candle. "Your majesty?" The mirror yells. I walk towards my father.
"Did Rumpelstiltskin tell you what you needed to know?" He asks as I walk right passed him.
"Yes." I say heavily.
"And?" He asks
"I'm not sure I should say…" I hesitate. "I'm conflicted." I admit as I turn away.
"How bad is it?" He asks. "Maybe I can help?" He offers kindly and I stop my tracks. I stand there for a moment trying to decide whether or not to tell him what I learned.
"I have to cut out the heart of the thing I love most." I finally say and the silence from there is deafening.
"Me." He says heavily knowing that he is the thing I love the most. I close my eyes trying to will away the pain before I turn around facing him.
"Daddy… I don't know what to do." I say, the pain I feel in this moment are greater than anything I've felt for a long time.
"My dear, please." He whispers as he comes towards me. "You don't have to do this." He says kindly.
"I have to do something." I say walking away from him, I don't trust myself around him right now. I feel helpless.
"Then move passed this. I know this may sound self-serving, but you don't need to enact the curse." He says following me and I turn around facing him.
"But I can't keep living like this." I say desperately, he just doesn't get it. "What Snow did to me, what she took from me. It's eating me alive, daddy. Her very existence mocks me… She must be punished." I say as I once again try to walk away from him, doesn't he understand? I don't want to do this, I don't want to kill him. I also don't want to just let Show get away with what she did to me.
"But if the price is a hole that will never be filled, why do it?" He asks and I stop my tracks, I already have a hole in my heart. "Stop worrying about Show White and start over, we can have a new life." He offers and I turn around looking right at him.
"What kind of life?" I ask on the edge of breaking. "All I've worked for… All I've build will be gone." I say as I can no longer hide my pain, my desperation and my tears. "My power will disappear… They already think I'm nothing." I say spiteful.
"Power is seductive, but so is love. You can have that again." He promises, I look at him with eyes filled with pain. I stand there feeling helpless, powerless once more. I walk into his arms which he opens instantly trying to comfort me.
"I just want to be happy." I say miserably.
"You can be, of this I'm sure. I believe if given the chance we can find happiness together, but the choice is yours." Hew whispers and I'm unable to keep a few tears from escaping. I feel determination coming willing my not to give up my vengeance.
"I think you're right." I agree as I pull away and look at him. "I can be happy." I repeat with a small smile. His eyes are bright and full of hope, he sighs relieved. "Just not here." I say in a hard voice, the surprise and fear on his face as I rip his heart out, it rips my soul apart. I look at my father who fell to his knees and I sink to the ground in front of my father. "I can't do it." I cry as I realize I can't kill my father to get what I want.
I take his heart and push it back inside of his body, I feel my whole world coming apart with no way of stopping it. I feel myself drowning in sorrows as my anger, my resentment and my thirst for vengeance is ripped away from under me. It was all I had to keep me together and now that it's gone I'm left with nothing but pain. I feel my father's hands around me as I cry, he pulls me into a comforting hug, but not even my father can comfort me now.
"It'll be okay, I promise." He whispers.
…
It has been a week since my revenge was ripped from me and I'm lost, drowning in self-pity and self-resentment. My father has been trying to talk to me for days, but I have ignored him unable to say anything. I can't take the look of my own face in the mirror because I'm the reminder of all the horrible things I've ever done in the name of revenge, now it's all for nothing. Everyone who have died so I could have my revenge, it's all gone. I was once a passionate young woman who couldn't hurt a fly, but now I'm The Evil Queen and everyone out there in my kingdom will always see me as such. My mirror has told me that Snow has given birth to a girl, Emma, she was destined to become the savior and break my curse. I guess she won't have to now… The Charmings can now get their happily ever after, while I'll drown in pain. If I want any chance of feeling anything other than pain I need to leave this place, forever.
I open the wardrobe in my bedroom and there it is, the pantsuit I once used for riding. I've never been able to throw it out because I always wore this when I was with him, my true love Daniel. I use my magic to make a change of clothing and when I see myself in the mirror now I look the way I used to. I look like the old Regina did before I became The Evil Queen, I transport myself to the stable and take one of the horses. I look back at my castle one more time before I tell the horse to run, I look ahead hoping I never again have to look at my old castle there's no good memories from my time there. I was a prisoner there back when I married Snow's father, I never loved him and he never loved me, it was an arranged marriage from hell. I feel a tiny bit of the weight on my heart lift the further I get away from what used to be my life.
…
I've been riding for hours and I'm feeling incredibly thirsty, its dark outside when I reach a tavern and I think to myself that I'm far enough away to make a stop. People won't notice who I am as long as I keep the hood over my head. I dismount and tie the horse; the horse instantly begins drinking water and eating hay. I walk through the wooden double doors and into the tavern, it's busy. Good, they won't have time to really think or wonder who I am. I take a seat on a barstool and order myself a drink which is being served rather quickly.
As I drink, I realize that I didn't think this through. I don't know where I'm going, I have no plan and no future, but I have to keep moving. I can't go back, I won't. I swallow my drink and get up ready to leave, to put even more distance between me and The Enchanted Forest. In my hast and deep in my own thoughts of misery I bump into a strong firm chest, hard enough to knock me on my feet and my hood falls off revealing my identity.
"I'm terribly sorry milady, let my buy you a drink." He offers kindly in an apology. I take his hand full of confusion as I allow him to pull me up. Doesn't he know how I am and what I'm known for?
"Don't you know who I am?" I ask with confusion all over her my face, I surely don't deserve any kindness.
"I'm afraid not, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you before." He smiles warmly, his charms are taking a deep hold on my dark, dark heart.
"But you know of me… I'm The Evil Queen." I say, with nothing by regret all over my voice.
"Are you?" He asks and by the tone of his voice I know that he in fact has heard of me, it's confusing me. Why is he talking to me? I wasn't exactly a good queen. "You may have been The Evil Queen, but if you were The Evil Queen now… I would be without a heart." He continues, I blush and smile shyly, he knows what kind of monster I was yet he's not even flinching. He doesn't seem to care at all of what I've done or who I was, when he looks at me I feel like he only sees me for who I am now, Regina.
"I'm Regina." I finally say, with a coy smile.
"I'm Robin, Robin Hood." He introduces himself.
"Really?" I ask in disbelief.
"You've heard of me too." He chuckles.
"So, it would seem…" I smile, he offers me his arm and I take it allowing him to lead me back inside. I know he was a villain, a thief, some time ago, but changed for the better. I look around the tavern, but as soon as they see me wide panic spreads and everyone runs out of there despite my desperate attempt to assure them that I'm not going to harm them. "Maybe I should just go, leave The Enchanted Forest like I was my way to do." I say doubting myself, I shouldn't even stay for a drink.
"Nonsense. Now that there's no bartender the drink must be on the house." He smiles mischievously making me drawn to him, like a moth to a flame, unable to resist it's call.
"A drink it is then." I whisper.
He gets started on mixing drink for us and I watch him with his back to me, he pulls up his sleeve before turning back around and when he hands me the drink I see it, a lion tattoo. Panic spreads through my entire being as I remember Tinkerbell's words, she had told me I could find love again and that pixie dust would lead me to him which it did, it let me to a tavern where I saw him. The guy with the lion tattoo and I ran, too scared to take another chance at love.
"Inside here, lies the beginning of your happiness." Tinkerbell says leading me towards a tavern as I listen. "All the pain in your past will be just that, the past." She says excitedly.
"I just need a moment." I sigh stepping back, she looks at me.
"You're nervous, I get it." She assures me as she looks back into the tavern. "But look, there he is." She says and I walk over to the door and peek inside. "They guy with the lion tattoo." She says.
"That's him." I say softly as I gaze at him from a distance.
"Pixie dust doesn't lie." She promises me. "Come one, this is your chance at love and happiness. A fresh start, no baggage. You can let go of all the anger that wears you down. Go get him." She encourages me, I look at her uncertainly.
"Okay," I say, I look back inside. "Okay, I can do this. I can be happy." I sigh believing it for a second.
"I know you can." She says looking at me with proud hopeful eyes. "Go." She says once more before she leaves me to go in.
I stand there for a moment considering, trying to convince myself I can do this as I open the door smiling, but as soon as I do fear overwhelms me. I look at the guy with the lion tattoo and I know I can't do it, I have nothing to offer and even if he didn't care about it, how can I be sure he won't be killed like Daniel did or that I'll even like him. I close the door and run out of there leaving it all behind.
I look at his tattoo and all of my fears from that day in the tavern comes back full force, I can't breathe. "I can't do this." I whisper strangled as I jump up from my seat and run out of there, I'm about to loosen my horse's rains so I can mount and run when a grip on my arm pulls me back.
"Regina, what just happened?" He asks, confused.
"I can't." I repeat.
"Why not?" He asks confused, I pull back once more and move to leave him when he pulls me back right into his arms and places his lips on mine. I'm paralyzed, but my eyes close as my lips begin to move against his. I feel it, something I haven't felt since Daniel… It's love, Tinkerbell was right all along if I had only listen to her. I wrap my hands around his next pulling him closer and my heart is beating violently in my chest. I don't know how long we've been standing there when he slowly pulls back. "Wow." He whispers.
"Wow." I agree.
"Don't run, come back inside for a drink." He pleads.
"Yes." I say helpless to resist, he takes me hand as he once more lead me inside. I take the drink he offers and I drain it, needing to process or something.
"Another?" He asks, I notice his own cup is as empty as mine.
"Please." I nod. He refiles my cup.
"What made you run?" He asks, curious.
"I'll sound crazy and you won't believe me if I told you." I whisper.
"Try me." He insists.
"I don't know, maybe I should be getting ready to leave." I shake my head.
"Wanna know what I think?" He asks and I find myself giving a short nod. "I think deep down you want to talk about this." He says boldly.
"What makes you think you know me so well?" I ask.
"Well for one thing I'd be charred to a crisp by now if you didn't." He says and I feel my lips tucking upwards in a small smile.
"True." I agree.
"So?" He prompt and I take a deep breath, how is it you tell a guy you just met that a fairy once told you that you were destined to be with him?
"It happened a while ago… My first love Daniel was killed because of me, because he loved me…" I admit.
"And that why you don't want to open yourself up again?" He asks looking at me with so much understanding.
"Tinkerbell came to me, she told me it was possible for me to love again. She let me to this tavern, to a man who she said I was destined to be with… I never saw his face before I ran, but I did see his lion tattoo." I whisper as I take his left hand and run my fingers to his tattoo, he looks at me as I do so and then looks back up at me.
"It was me?" He asks surprised.
"Yes." I admit. "I was just too scared to approach you."
"Well maybe things work out when they're supposed to. Maybe it's all about timing." He says wisely as he caresses my cheek. I look at him surprised by the sudden turn this had taken as I walked in and I only see truth in his eyes. He leans in gently pressing his lips over mine. "You know I lost someone too, my Marian, I felt just like you for a long time. Her death, it was my fault." He admits.
"I'm sorry." I admit compassionately, knowing just how he feels.
"I would have walked through hell to be with my Marian again, but when I finally admitted to myself that she was gone and that she was never coming back. I had to let that guilt go." He says being open and honest with me.
"I get it. I was on my way to leave this place behind for good. I was consumed with vengeance, but when I learned the price for my revenge would be my father's heart. I tried, but I couldn't. Suddenly all I had was pain, regret and emptiness. I don't know if I can stay here. You saw people when they knew how I were. I can never make up for all the horror and pain I've caused." I say heavily.
"That's only true if you leave here. Regina, it won't be easy, but you can stay show everyone you've changed and do everything in your power to fix you errors. I can help you because I've done it." He whispers.
"I know, but no offense… You weren't as terrible and evil as I was." I murmur.
"No, I might not have been, but it doesn't mean you can't try. There must be people out there like me who can see you've changed." He encourages.
"Maybe, but I'd have to make up with Snow. I don't think she'll forgive me. I ruined her wedding and threatened to cast a curse that would make her forget who she was and separate her from her husband and child." I shake my head.
"But you didn't." He says and I look up at him.
"I almost did…"
"You'll have to want this for them to see that you're being truthful." He says.
"I do." I admit.
"So, you'll stay?" He asks hopefully.
"I'll stay." I nod, and then his lips are back on mine. I let myself get lost in the kiss and for a moment the only thing there exists is us.
…
Robin and I have been staying in the tavern for days, we've talked and gotten to know each other. It has only been a week, but I'm falling for him hard and fast. I've told him what happened between Snow and me, he told me that my mother manipulated Snow into telling her my secret and now I can finally see it too. She didn't mean any harm, in fact, she did it because she cared about me and despite the horrible outcome I appreciate her trying to do the right thing. I'm getting myself ready to face her while Robin is out and as I turn around Rumpelstiltskin is standing right in front of me.
"How did you get out?" I ask horrified.
"I've always had what I need to escape, but I wouldn't have needed to use it if you'd cast my curse." He hisses.
"I couldn't kill my father." I say.
"Oh, we both know you could, you just didn't want to." He singsongs.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
"The prophecy has changed about Snow and Charming's daughter, Emma. When you didn't cast the curse, her fate could never be and there needs to be a balance. She's destined to become the savior and bring back all the happy endings, because of you she can't since you should have been the one to take away their happy ending. Now her fate is to defeat me… You can see how I have a problem with that?" He says.
"At least there's some good news." I say happy to know he'll for once be the one paying.
"Oh, you think she'll just defeat me, dearie? On her 28'th birthday the final battle will begin and she'll have to fight it alone. She can defeat me and with that destroy all darkness along with it, but there's a catch… Because Emma is born from true love she has great potential for good, but magic needs balance which means she has a great potential for darkness as well. If she darkens her heart she's destined to sniff out the light, forever." He chuckles evilly.
"You want to alter her fate?" I ask fearfully, he'll doom a child to greater evil than what I've faced. I can't let that happen.
"Of course, I do. It's between her or me. I chose me." He grins and with that he's gone. I stand there lift with a horrified expression on my face.
"Regina what's wrong?" Robin asks.
"Rumpelstiltskin… He has escaped and because of me Snows daughter is fated to defeat him… Robin he knows that he can cheat fate by darkening her heart, making her darker and more evil than this land has ever seen. We have to warn them, we have to protect her." I say barely breathing as I talk.
"Let's go." He says making a move to leave.
"No. I can get us there in seconds." I say and he nods. I transport us instantly to the castle grounds.
…
Robin and I are standing in front of the castle, it only takes seconds for them all to panic by the look if me, but it also means I have Snow and David in front on me in the matter of seconds.
"You won't get to hurt our daughter!" David says with Snow right by his side.
"I'm not here to hurt her, you or anyone else." I say softly hoping they'll see how sincere I am.
"Why should we believe you? Last time we saw you were when you threatened the whole kingdom including our daughter." Snow says distrustful.
"I know you won't just trust me, but when I learned the price of my curse was my father's heart I couldn't do it. I was leaving The Enchanted Forest when I met Robin." I smile at him and he squeezes my hand for comfort.
"Who are you?" Snow asks him.
"Robin of Locksley or just Robin Hood." He bows.
"I've heard of you once. You were a villain, a thief, then you began stealing from the rich and give to the poor." David says respect is showing in his eyes.
"That would be me. I ask of you please, just hear what Regina has to say. She's not here to harm anyone, in fact, she's here to help you protect your daughter." He says and I smile at him.
"We needed to protect her from you, there's no one else." Snow says.
"That's not quite true… Rumpelstiltskin has escaped and he wants to darken Emma's heart to escape his fate. Magic needs balance and Emma is born from true love with great potential for darkness as well as her great potential for heroism. When I didn't cast the curse her fate changed before she where supposed to defeat me and bring back the happy endings I took, but when I didn't she now have to defeat Rumpelstiltskin. Her destiny is to destroy all darkness forever or if turned dark destroy all light, forever. She will be a great savior or the destruction of all, I'm here to make sure she'll be the first." I explain, both David and Snow looks horrified.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Snow asks me.
"I don't know, but if there is I'll find it. I have done so many terrible things and I can never make up for it, but I have to try. The best I can think off is to save your daughter, she shouldn't be exposed to a great evil as The Dark One, he'll corrupt her like he did with me. The darkness is tempting and seductive, take it from me it's appealing and once it has tasted you, it won't disappear, only grow." I explain.
"I want to trust you, but how can I?" Snow asks softly.
"If you have a cuff there removes magic I'll agree to wear it for as long as you will need to trust me. I'll tell you everything." I promise her.
"Stand down, Charming." She says to her husband and he looks at her in disbelief.
"Are you sure? It's Emma's life and she's The Evil Queen…" He says.
"No, she was The Evil Queen this is Regina, the woman I once knew." She smiles brightly at me and I return her smile. "She didn't have to warn us about Emma, but she did."
Narrator:
Snow allows Regina and Robin into the castle, Regina and Snow talk about the past. Snow finally understands where Regina's anger came from. They find an understanding and Snow allows Regina to meet Emma, once Regina sees her she falls for her too. She promises herself to protect her from The Dark One and spend the 28 years trying to find a way to save her.
Snow asks Regina to move into the castle along with Robin and his son Roland, they accept because it'll be easier to protect Emma if she's always nearby. Roland falls for Emma at first sight as well becoming a friend and a protector.
The kingdom becomes reunited and begin to forgive Regina for her past, as the years passes by the kingdom seems to forget and forgive who she once was. Regina is now on Snows side helping her protect the kingdom for any threats.
Emma grows up with loving parents, Regina as her friend and protector, in an United Kingdom, at her 28'th birthday she's to be crowned queen, but that's not exactly what happened...
A/N:
Here is the prologue to my newest story that I've been working on. I fell in love with this idea and I just had to share it with all of you. I've written the first 8 chapters of this story, so for a while I'll upload frequently. I haven't given up on any on my other stories and they will be updated once I've written them. I've had a horrible year and it's still not going too well, but with a little bit of hope maybe it'll get better.
Why do you think about the beginning? Do you want me to continue uploading and writing this story?
The chapters will mostly be in Emma P.O.V, but we might see Regina's P.O.V some time later on and maybe Hook's too :) We'll see ;) I kinda enjoyed writing Regina's P.O.V way more than I thought I would.
- Until next time :)