A/N: Hello everyone! While I'm not new to fanfiction, this is my first OC fic. I just fell in love with Once Upon a Time the second I saw it, and felt the need to write a fanfiction about it. But while I was trying, I found a character developing in my head. No worries, she's not a total drama diva and the world doesn't center around her. I'll try and keep it as canon as possible with the actual story as it comes out, which will be kind of easy because MOST of the story's background is hidden SO FAR. So I'm hoping to get lucky.
Before you ask, YES, this OFC gets involved with Rumpelstiltskin. But it's not lovey dovey romance. It's cold and cruel and, while consensual, they aren't always agreeing. So I can't wait for things like that.
So, I hope you all enjoy the fic, tell me what you think of the prologue, it might be a bit before the first real chapter comes out because I've only got snippets and have other things to do work-wise besides this story. So please, Rate and Review and tell me whatcha think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time or any of the characters or rights affiliated with it. This goes true for the entire rest of my story, so I won't be posting it again. Trust me, if I did own this show, Rumpel would be on it so much more, hell, he would be the main character.
It was cold. Moonlight shone through in clear rays through the small work shop window, particles of dust in the dirty space illuminated through the streams of luminescence before fading away as they twittered off into the night. Outside the forest was quiet with not a wolf to be heard or even a chirp of the early-rising bird. Frost dusted the window panes and the grass was beginning to crust up with the early twilight white powder.
He sat alone in the cold brisk time just before dawn and just after midnight. An oil lamp sat beside him, flickering and calling out to him with a dying light to be refilled. His hands were shining with polish, fingers scrubbing mercilessly at a struggling ruby that needed just the right amount of shine. The setting had been placed on the dingy worktable. It was gleaming with hours of hard work, molding it just right to the jewel that would fill it momentarily.
A little more pressure. Just to get that small light pinkish shine that could catch the eye of any princess it desired. He would be set, this was the moment. His breath tickled his working hands as he moved closer, spectacles threatening to fall off of his face.
He was too busy to notice the small rapping at the door behind him. He was too engrossed in his work, in the perfection that was the long week of that simple ruby. But he did notice when the door burst open and cold dusk-like chill set in on him.
He whipped around, eyes wide as he took in the full appearance of his guest. Lanky, covered in dark fabric to shroud himself in the night. Literal glittering features speckled with gold to shimmer his face into a mask of poise and amusement. Eyes large and twisted and sparkling with glee. And an upturned smile, a grin like no other, that could convince anyone or anything into it's bidding all while giving said thing a settled feeling of dread that could never be shaken.
The feared shadow had finally come to call.
"It took you long enough." The working man spat turning around from his work and gripping the precious gem in an angry fist. "I sent out word for your help over a month ago. I go into town tomorrow to attempt to sell such a pitiful collection and—"
"Silence, I'm thinking." The man was interrupted by a fearsome voice. It was the faintest giggle, with a hint of sarcasm and annoyance.
"We don't have time to be thinking. You already know what I want. And I'll do anything to get it." He insisted, standing. The shadow in front of him whipped it's wandering face towards him and grinned, forcing him to sit back down in fear.
"You want talent."
So he did know the truth.
"I want to be able to succeed in my ventures in business. I have the talent…" he hesitated. "Throw in the talent too."
"Talent is a horrible kind of magic, kind idiot." The Shadow said cruelly, waltzing towards the work bench. He saw there various misshapen stones with a dull glint to them, and obviously unfitting silver and gold settings of many different sizes and shapes. "Talent is a kind of magic that requires something deep and dark. Something…" he giggled. "Something like me."
"Then can you do it?" the man begged, stone warming in his sweating palm. "I have enough gold for the moment to—"
"Bah!" the Shadow sneered, walking towards him and into the moonlight. The feared grin was worse than he imagined. His bones were frozen to the core, body unable to move or look away. He had been foolish to even attempt such a deal! But he couldn't back out, you never did with him.
"Gold will not be enough for something so dark and trivial. A life much be sacrificed for talent and success. It's a certain… policy of mine that I love love love to uphold with greatest importance." His voice mimicked sing-song as he cackled at the man's newfound terror. He stepped forward, face getting directly into the man's personal space.
"Mister… what was it? Ah well, Jeweler. That's what I'll call you. You must give me something of equal value in order for my grand gift to be given. And talent is no fuddy duddy sort of magic to deal with. All magic comes with a price, Jeweler. And this type certainly comes with a high one."
The man called Jeweler gulped, backing away and falling onto his table. Gems spilled onto the dusty wooden floor, sprawling in all different directions in a rainbow of light against the moon.
Could he really do this? He had no life to give! He had no heirs, or family willing to take his place, and he would not practically sell his soul just to end up being taken away. His wife was out of the question as well. She was too fragile for something like this, how dare he even think about giving her up.
The Shadow tapped his foot impatiently, shifting on both legs before sighing dramatically.
"This, sir, is normally where people offer me up their unborn children." He said with a click of his tongue.
The Jeweler bit his tongue. Certainly he and his wife were trying for an heir to his trade, but how could he promise something he didn't have?
"My wife and I… we have not yet given birth but…" he stammered, palms slick and the ruby ready to fall from his grip.
"Just promise me the unborn child then. You know, if you aren't really interested I could just kill you for wasting my ti—"
"NO!" The Jeweler said, cowering away. "I—I will. I'll promise you my child."
"Great." The Shadow sneered, flicking his hand theatrically and conjuring up a very large and very long contract.
"The magic will be effective immediately." He said, looking the unraveling scroll up and down. "Talent in your trades and success in all business ventures you attempt. A wise choice indeed. Let's hope you use it well." He frowned a bit. "And in turn, your child, when born, will be given to me—"
"Please, not right away." The Jeweler interrupted, hands clasping together to plead. "I want to see my child grow… on their twenty-first birthday perhaps?" he asked, mind screaming at him to stop making the deal just then and take the punishment. But he was too filled with cowardice and fear and greed that he could not stop himself. The Shadow seemed to sense his inner turmoil, grinning manically.
"Very well. I will collect the child on it's Twenty-First birthday. No sooner, nor after. The day of, before the sun sets and after it rises of course." He giggled to himself.
"Then I'm assuming we have a deal."
"Yes."
The Shadow hooted a whoop of joy, scuffling up a quill from nowhere in the darkness and handing both contract and pen to the Jeweler.
"I expect you to hold up your end of the bargain. Or else." He mentioned conversationally while the man signed his name at the bottom of the old parchment. His name seemed to burn into the paper, and suddenly it vanished from his grasp.
"Thank you, sir…" the Jeweler said with a suddenly dry voice, tears threatening to well up in his eyes. This was what he wanted. He had hoped for this, sought it out himself. He could not become weak now.
"Oh please, Mister Jeweler sir," The Shadow said with a crooning tone. "We are business partners, you and I. You may use my full name."
And suddenly he was gone, a whisper on the chilly winter wind as the sun began to rise on the horizon. The Jeweler watched the spot where he stood, wishing it was just a dream. But he knew it wasn't. For the second he looked at the stone in his hand, it miraculously changed to the perfect necklace piece, pristine cuts and sleek shine in all of the right places that he could have never reached before on his own.
He bent down to gather the rest of his spilled things from the floor, placing them in his stained old apron.
"Thank you, Rumpelstiltskin."
A/N: Well, I hope you all liked the small prologue. Now, for a small thing, this is BEFORE he gets locked up in the Kingdom dungeon. So he's still nuts, but a tad more in control of himself, because I believe from what I've seen in the small Episode 4 preview and such that he was a cool dealmaker while still being a nutcase. Please let me know what you think of my characterization of him as well, I'm always looking to improve!
So please, R&R, and no flaming! Gracias! Ciao!