Warning: Half of the prologue is based on the backstory of Mother Nature from The Guardians of Childhood, who will actually make an appearance in the story as Pitch Black's wife. Don't question it, this is pure interpretation. Also, keep in mind, this is my first fanfic, so try not to go too harsh with the comments ;)
Prologue: The Story of Layla Pitchener
Thousands of years ago, in a faraway land, within a lustrous marble palace, there lived a happy couple. They had a beautiful little girl named Layla, with hair as black as the night sky, skin like a porcelain doll, lips like pink roses, and eyes like emeralds. Her father was a decorated general, loved by his people and honored by the Golden Army. Samara adored her father, always joining him on his sailing trips. Her mother loved nature. She tended to her vast and bewitching garden every day, as well as fed and took care of any stray a/o injured animals that came by. She wanted her daughter to stay within the palace, so whenever Layla would disobey her and sneak out, she would always scold at her, while her father would just turn a blind eye, admiring his daughter's free spirit.
One night, a band of Dream Pirates staged a fake ambush in the city outside their home and Layla's father left to stop the feigned threat. As he left, she gave him a locket with her picture and he put it on. He hugged and kissed her and told her he would be back soon. She asked if he promised and he replied: "On my soul."
But while he was fending off a fake threat, the Dream Pirates came to attack their mansion. To avoid the danger, Layla snuck out of her room and escaped on her father's boat. Hearing the alarms, her mother ran to her daughter's room only to find that she was gone again. For the first time, she was pleased of Layla snuck out. The Dream Pirates started breaking down the door and because she knew they would come back for her daughter later, she grabbed a large doll that bared a resemblance to her daughter and held it in her arms. Once the Dream Pirates broke down the door, she kept enough of the doll exposed under her cape and making them believe it was her daughter before she ran to the window… straight into and through it. The glass shattered and Layla's mother was gone.
As Layla stood in the boat, far enough away from the attack, she watched her mother fall to her death with horror and salty tears flooding her innocent eyes. When her father returned from defeating the pirates, he saw the remains of his then deceased wife, as well as what looked like his daughter's corpse. At that moment, the general could do nothing but fall on his knees and weep for what felt like eternity.
After an hour of tears, a massive battleship arrived on the shore. Soldiers of the Golden Army approached the general and told him there were Dream Pirates and Fearlings attacking other kingdoms throughout the world. The army needed his leadership to help capture them all. He thought to himself he had nothing left to lose and did not want anyone to share his pain and agony, so he agreed to help and followed them to the ship. As they climbed aboard, Layla's boat stopped at the shore and she ran across the beach to inform father that she was alright. She ran as fast as she could but was not quick enough. She shouted as loud she could, but her he could not hear from within the ship. She stopped running and could only watch the ship sail away. Layla was all alone.