A/N: Hey! so I've had this on my tablet forever and I was sick of it just sitting there and instead of deleting it - I decided to just edit it and post this part of it.
Basically Rumple was never the Dark One. Emma has been the dark one for three hundred years. Even though Regina is a baby in the beginning of this story, this is a Swan Queen love story. There's a character death but I promise that it is not Regina or Emma.
I own nothin', sorry for mistakes, no warnings for this chapter.
Anyway, enjoy. :)
Vanishing into the Darkness
Chapter One
"Alright." The Dark One said in an amused tone. "I'll teach you magic but as the Dark One, I can't just give you free lessons."
Cora frowned. "Okay what do you want in return?" She asked stepping closer and placing a hand on the Dark One's chest. "I'm willing to do anything..."
The Dark One brushed the woman's hand off. "Please. I'm not that desperate but I do require payment." She said ignoring the other woman's look of offense "Here's the deal: I want your first born child."
"I'm sorry, what?" The other woman looked appalled.
"How badly do you wish to learn magic, become queen and rule the realms?"
The woman thought it over then she appeared to have come to a conclusion. "More than anything."
"More than becoming a mother?" Clearly she wouldn't... She thought as the woman appeared to be thinking it over. Nothing is more important than being a Mo-
"Yes."
Well then..
The Dark One chuckled. "There. So do we have a deal?" She held up her hand, a contract appeared in it.
Cora hesitated for a moment but her need for power over ruled her better judgement. She took the feathered quill from the woman's hand and scribbled her name on to the contract.
The Dark One chuckled. "Nice."
Cora looked up at her new magic teacher. She looked so young, no older than her early thirties, late twenties but she was about three hundred years old. She had centuries of knowledge and she was the most powerful Dark One to ever live. Cora knew she had made the right decision.
Cora's magic lessons went on for a few years before and after she managed to use her power to snag a prince. By the completion of her lessons, she had managed to secretly and efficiently kill the king then she and her new husband rose to power as king and queen. It was everything she had ever wanted. Power, riches, influence.
She was no longer plagued with the life of a miller's daughter. She traded in her rags for grand gowns and a crown. For once in Queen Cora's life, she hadn't a care in the world.
She had everything she had ever wanted.
Then she and her husband were later blessed with a baby. A beautiful little princess.
An heir to the throne.
It was a glorious moment. Her daughter was precious, barely cried and had perfect chocolate brown eyes. She looked more like a doll than a living thing. She was one hundred princess. She looked the part and even as an infant she gave off that vibe. Cora loved her as best as... well... she could. She never let the little girl out of her sight, always having her near her or in her arms in case she was having an unpleasant day, she could gaze upon her child innocent face and let her lift her spirits. The little princess was everything to her but their happiness was not meant to be.
The princess's very public christening was a magnificent occasion. Kings and Queens came from every kingdom to gaze upon the baby. The baby received countless gifts and blessings. This pleased Cora greatly. Her daughter had already made her proud by capturing the hearts of all her people, other monarchs and noblemen.
She would be a great queen someday.
She gazed lovingly at her daughter that had already become the talk of the realm and felt a sense of pride as she sat in the rocking chair, in the quiet nursery, rocking the two of them after the Princess' meal. Those big brown eyes watched her with the same love in them that Cora felt for her child. They twinkled prettily beneath those long dark eyelashes. She traced a finger down the newborn's caramel cheek then tapped her cute little nose. Her daughter was truly a vision. When she came of age Cora knew that there would be princes and even kings lining up for her hand. Cora of course would pick the best and most influential. Only the best for her little girl.
Her daughter's beauty was going to be her greatest weapon.
A sudden feeling of impending doom washed over her. She remembered the deal she made and she knew that it was only a matter of time. The princess wouldn't get to do much of anything because at only three days old, her daughter was already leaving her. Even Cora couldn't fight off the Dark One. It was futile. All that she could do was cherish the last moments she was going to share with her child.
Judging by the sound of the commotion on the other side of the door, the time had come. Time for her to say goodbye to her only child.
Cora had never regretted a decision she's made more than this one. She thought she was going to be incapable of loving her child but she surprised herself. From the moment she felt her princess kick for the first time, the child had stolen her heart and now she was about to lose her. She would never love anyone more than she loved this little girl.
She heard the guards shouting orders at each other and their cries of pain and the clanking of their armor in their final attempts at protecting their Princess. Once she heard the last soldier fall, she held her baby closer to her chest and rocked her, hushing her frightened whimpers. So much noise was new to the baby. She could also sense Cora's nervousness.
Cora looked down at the baby, she was primping and her eyes were wide. She wanted to comfort her one last time. She knew that was the last time that she would ever comfort her, feel her in her arms and look at her beautiful face. They would never see one another again and she would never know whatever became of her princess. She'll become a distant memory. A small moment in time when Cora was actually happy.
The tall pale pink doors to the nursery burst open and the baby started wailing at the loud sound in her tiny ears. Cora looked up from the crying child and her heart sank when she saw the Dark One standing in the door way in an all black leather outfit and a taunting smirk. Cora stood from the chair and held her child close in a final attempt to protect her.
"Look who's glowing." The woman with the white hair said dryly. "Motherhood looks good on you, your majesty. I'm sorry to have to cut it short."
"Then don't." Cora pleaded. "Let's make a new deal."
The Dark One laughed. "You have nothing else I want. Now hand it over."
"Please, Dark One." Cora pleaded again. She hated how weak she sounded but she couldn't just let her child go. She had to fight for her. Keep her safe. "Just... don't do this."
"You can have more children." The Dark One shrugged simply. As if it were nothing and the baby was simply a puppy.
"But I want her." Cora said softly. She wasn't lying. There's nothing more that she wanted in this world than her daughter. To watch her grow, to teach her, to hold her.
The Dark One scrunched her nose, completely unmoved by the queen's pleading. "It's a girl?" She waved her hand and before Cora could react, the baby was engulfed in a cloud of white smoke and disappeared from her arms. She felt the loss instantly and wanted to cry out. She watched hopelessly as the infant reappeared in the Dark One's arms. "I didn't really want a girl." The Dark One muttered as she looked down at the little bundle wrapped in the pink and white blanket. She moved the blanket aside and looked into the baby's face. Her little cheeks were tear streaked and she was primping as she whimpered. "She's cute though."
"So let's alter the deal. My son. You can have him." Cora tried desperately. She no longer cared. She would have traded her soul. She just didn't want the Dark One to take the only thing she had ever loved.
"You're willing to trade one child for another?" The Dark One asked with raised brows. She chuckled. "This child is probably better off with me anyway. Besides I like her. She looks like a doll. What's her name?"
"Princess Regina." Cora replied with a scowl.
The Dark One scrunched her nose. "Regina?" She repeated the name. She looked down at the baby and wiped her tears with the blanket. "I don't like it but it'll do. I have to call her something."
Cora sighed in defeat. "What are you going to do with her?" She knew that the Dark One was too cruel to have sympathy. She had to come to terms that she lost her only child. She at least wanted to know what would happen to her so that she could mourn properly.
"That's no longer your concern since she's no longer yours." The Dark One said darkly. "Just know that whatever her fate is, she's better off than being with you."
Then just like that the Dark one and the baby vanished from the nursery in a cloud of gray smoke, leaving Cora alone to fall to her knees and cry true tears for the first time in a very long time.
Losing what could have been the best thing that has ever happened to her was a pain that was too much to bear. She could still feel the weight or her infant in her arms, smell her. Now she was gone. Never to return to her.
She never thought it would hurt that badly. She made a true mistake now she lost her happy ending.
She had no idea how she was ever going to get over it. She lost everything in a blink of an eye.
The Dark One arrived in her grand castle, right outside of the kitchens with the baby securely in her arms. It had been so long since she's held a baby, smelled one, heard one. It brought all types of memories back, both comforting and painful. Although this was just payment for a deal. She didn't exactly want a baby. The Dark One doesn't have time to raise a child, not that she'd even want to. Even though she was feared across the realms and was known for being cold and cruel, she still had eyes and this baby was pretty cute. She chuckled at how the baby looked like a sugarplum fairy with that pink knitted cap and her chubby cheeks. She reached up, stroking the babies forehead then slid her hand up and slid the cap off. She smiled at the curly dark locks that were hidden beneath. She had never seen that much hair on an infant in her life.
Then again she had never seen a baby so gorgeous in her entire life. The queen had to use some kind of magic because there was no way this child was real. Those big chocolate brown eyes that gazed up into hers were mesmerizing. She felt her heart stop when a tiny hand reached up and touched her face. Her eyes instantly slipped closed when the hand touched her skin. The new skin, warm, soft baby fingers made her feel things. Things she hadn't felt in centuries. Her heart felt... well she remembered that she actually had one. When her eyes opened, she saw the small smile on the baby's face. It was as if she knew she had gotten the better part of the deal when the Dark One took her. She knew she would give her her best chance.
"You are really something." The Dark One muttered to the baby as those tiny fingers touched her lips. She unconsciously kissed those tiny fingers. "You're amazing. That woman would have stripped that from you. She would have erased who you are to make you who she wanted you to be." She whispered. "I would never do that. I promise to protect you and make you happy."
The baby removed her hand from the Dark One's face and popped her thumb into her mouth. The Dark One felt her darkened heart melting and that's when she decided she couldn't be around this baby. She couldn't love her. Dark Ones don't love. It never ends well. It weakens you and that's how you end up dead.
She would keep her promise though. This child would want for nothing. She would have the best care. She would be loved and safe. Every child deserves that.
"Granny!" The Dark One called through the archway to the grand kitchen. Honestly that place was the brightest room in the palace. The rest of the place was dark and dreary but Granny needed her light. She pressed that multiple times. Pots and pans could be heard clanking and the occasional cabinet or drawer being slammed shut. The baby fussed a little at the sudden noise. The Dark One began rocking her to calm her and she settled down a little.
Eventually, an older woman stepped out through the archway followed by a little girl, no older than five. The Dark One had hired the woman to work in her kitchen a few years ago when the woman's orphan grandchild was just a baby. Not trusting many people and seeing the way this woman raised her granddaughter, she discussed the new arrival of the baby (not with much detail of course) with her and the woman was more than happy to care for it. So instead of the kitchen, Granny would care for the young princess full time. She respected the woman and her granddaughter was a nice child and stayed out of the way. Most importantly neither of them feared her. Granny was the closest she had to a friend. She trusted her with everything. "She's here." She held up the baby slightly.
Granny chuckled. "Oh would you look at that face!" She quickly scooped the baby up out of the Dark One's arms. She leaned down and showed the baby to her granddaughter. "Isn't she cute, Ruby?"
"She looks like a dollie." The little girl giggled, the baby reached for Ruby and the girl's smile grew. The Dark One smiled at the interaction between the castle's youngest residents but quickly fixed her face back to one of indifference.
"She does. She's so precious." Granny chuckled and hugged the baby to her chest.
"I have no idea when she ate last or has been changed." The Dark One said. Granny and Ruby nodded.
"We'll figure it out." Granny reassured. "She's in good hands."
"Thank you." The Dark One said, glancing at the baby. Those warm eyes were now fixated on Granny, watching the woman with so much curiosity. The Dark One ended up smiling at that to. The baby was precious.
Ruby tilted her head and looked up at the Dark One. "What's her name?"
"Granny and Ruby, meet Regina." She received matching confused expressions. "She came with the name. I have better things to do than rename a baby." She huffed. Ruby giggled.
"I like it." Granny said thoughtfully. "It suits her."
"I'm going to call her Gina or Gigi." Ruby giggled. Granny smiled at her granddaughter.
The Dark One nodded trying to regain her scary demeanor. She did have a reputation to uphold after all. "Well, the three of you should get to it. I have calls to make."
Grandmother and granddaughter nodded. The Dark One stroked the baby's hair one last time and let her knuckles stroke the baby's cheek, she received a small smile from the little brunette. She smiled back. "Good evening, Regina. Be good." She said to the baby quietly with a smile then she straightened up and fixed her jacket. She then turned on her heels and walked down the dark, stone hall.
The other three watched her go for a while. Granny then looked down at the baby that was chewing her little fingers. She was obviously hungry. She chuckled and nodded towards ruby then the three of them headed back towards the kitchen.
The first night was the toughest. That was something she knew well but that seemed like such a very long time ago. Which it had been, centuries actually but she still remembered it so well. That didn't change the fact that it still put her on high alert and played on her emotions.
The sound of the tiny wails ripped through the halls of the castle. She had forgotten how loud and unforgiving an angry infant could be. Regina's angry cries cut through the night and she didn't appear to be stopping any time soon. She sounded very angry. Probably missing her terrible mother.
With a heavy sigh, the Dark One stood from the black chaise in her bed chambers. She tossed the book she had been trying ro read back onto it. With a flourish of her hands, she poofed from her chambers. She reappeared in the baby's nursery.
The room itself was decorated in white and a soft baby pink. The Dark One had done so with her magic. It came in handy for situations like this. The room was brightly lit. It may be lighter than the kitchen. Baby's need light.
A large white crib sat in the center of the room. It was plush and full of stuffed animals and a lovely pink quilt was inside. There were white sheer drapes that hung from the top. They were currently pulled open.
A very adequate living environment for a baby girl. But young Regina obviously did not appear to agree as she screamed at the top of her lungs.
She found Granny over by the large window, pacing slowly, with the baby rested against her shoulder, humming to her as she bounced her gently. The baby continued to cry and hiccup.
"What's wrong with her?" The Dark One snapped. Even though she knew. It was night time, Regina was very young, her mother was nowhere to be found and she was surrounded by all of these strangers.
"She's upset." Granny said simply. "She's eaten, she's clean. She's just having a bit of a tantrum at this point."
The Dark One nodded, taking in the scene of the very red faced baby and her toothless mouth as it opened wide as she cried. For some reason she didn't like when this little girl was anything but happy.
"Let me." She said stepping over to the old woman. Granny looked surprised for a moment then simply smiled at her and handed the baby over.
Taking the little princess in her arms, she bounced her a little. The baby's arms were stretched out, hands balled into tiny fists and she screamed unyieldingly. Her face was scrunched and her eyes were screwed shut, tears ran down her chubby cheeks which were now a flaming red. The Dark One reached up and wiped them with her thumb.
The contact seemed to have surprised the baby because she settled down a little. She continued to whimper as her eyes opened. Her bottom lip was poked out in a primp. "There, there..." The Dark One said soothingly. "Dear one, don't cry..." The baby's lips started quivering again so she bounced her again. "No, no. Pretty girl, it's okay."
The baby watched her face for a moment. Her little brows were drawn together in deep concentration as if she was trying to understand. She must have put the pieces together because her little hand reached up and touched the Dark One's face again like she had earlier feeling, softly. Those big brown eyes stared into her green ones with so much wonder and curiosity. It caused her to smile.
Regina kept one hand on the Dark One's cheek and then popped her thumb into her mouth. "That's it, good girl." The Dark One bounced her some more. The baby seemed to settle down and relax. She turned her little head and burrowed her face into the woman's chest.
Being a feared villain, she couldn't enjoy the warmth of the baby in her arms. Despite how sweet it was. It had been so long since she had been cuddled. It felt... well it awakened more feelings. Feelings she wanted to keep buried. This baby was going to be a problem.
Eventually those pretty eyes began to slip closed and the princess drifted off to sleep. The Dark One watched her for a moment. She was a vision. A little cherub.
She truly enjoyed the beauty of a sleeping baby. The peace and innocence of it. This child was truly amazing. She reminded her so much of him...
No. She couldn't. Too much emotion for one night. No.
She looked up from the baby's adorable sleeping face and her eyes met Granny's. The woman gave her a wide smile. "You're good with her," the older woman said.
That seemed to snap the Dark One out of it. She couldn't appear weak. She cleared her throat, Passing the baby to the older woman, gently as to not wake her, she said, "Here. I would appreciate it if you kept her quiet so that I can focus. I was in the middle of something." She put her mask of indifference back on. Granny nodded with a knowing smile but before she could say anything else, the Dark One poofed from the room.
News quickly spread of the shocking death of the young princess. Apparently rumor had it that she had just passed away in her sleep from an unknown illness. The entire kingdom was in mourning as well other kingdoms as well. Just like with the Christening, Kings and Queens from far and wide came to visit the King and Queen but this was a far less joyful occasion. Instead of coming to gaze upon the beautiful Princess, they instead came to gaze upon the child-sized coffin and pay their respects to the parents of a child that no one would ever get to know. The land of Mist Haven appeared to be much darker in those days.
The Queen's pain was felt far and wide. Everyone mourned the child. The fallen princess as they've began to call the little princess.
No one knew of the true story. Cora had magically wiped the memories of her surviving guards and had them believing that one morning Cora walked into the baby's nursery and found the infant still and stiff. Fortunately King Henry, the child's father did not want to gaze upon his dead daughter so he never asked to see her. It was easy to bury an empty casket out in the field of roses. Although the cause was untrue, the Queen's mourning seemed true because it was. She had lost her only child and for all she knew the child was dead. She could never let anyone learn the truth of her child's fate.
The Dark One often wondered how the kingdoms would react if they ever discovered that their queen had sold her baby off for power and that the beautiful little princess was now in the care of the Dark One. The child was growing happy and healthy each passing day.
The Dark One saw to it. She saw that she was taken care of. All of her needs were met under the watchful eye of Granny. The woman took her everywhere in her little basket and never took her eyes off of her but what they didn't know was that despite wanting to keep her distance, the Dark One did as well. She constantly watched over the child to make sure that she was safe. But wouldn't let the child or anyone see her. They didn't need to know.
The Dark One successfully stayed clear of the baby. She kept reminding herself that the child was nothing more than payment. She was not a child that she adopted and she was not supposed to love her nor was she supposed to long for the love of the child. Her job was just to protect her and keep her alive until she came of age to take care of herself and so far she was doing that. Nothing in that deal said interaction so she didn't plan to spend much time with her.
Keeping her distance was what was best. She had nothing to offer her family-wise. Besides loving the Dark One or being loved by the Dark One was dangerous. She had learned that the hard way. Fate is cruel that way.
Besides the Dark One had far more important things to do than raise a baby. Her time had long passed for that. She had no desire to do it again.
She would check in on Regina, however to see if she needed anything and once she was sure that she was okay, the Dark One would go back into isolation. Isolation is best.
It was in everyone's best interest if she just stayed away. She had to give little Regina her best chance.
Feelings were pointless. Love was weakness. That was one thing Cora had gotten right.
The Dark One had lived years under those rules. Centuries. And they have never steered her wrong so why change now? The child deserved better anyway than a black hearted beast that destroys everything it touches. Regina needed to be bathed in light after stemming from the darkness of the cruel Queen Cora.
True Regina was better off with the Dark One but her best chance was with Granny. A woman that could teach her to be good. Who could show her the right way.
She wanted Regina to be taught by the light and not shown the darkness.
She looked down at the baby in the crib. Regina was a week old now. She had somehow gotten chubbier and somehow gotten even more fussy. It was more than obvious that the little girl was a brat. Everyone in the castle loved her and they gave her loads of attention and that's what she was used to so she was spoiled.
The Dark One combed her fingers through the baby's slightly longer curls again and again. She appeared to like that because she began settling down and her eyes wandered up and locked onto the Dark One's. The baby began gnawing on her fingers again. Her lids began drooping closed. She was sleepy but she didn't want to fall asleep alone. She wanted to see someone. She kept her eyes on the Dark One's and popped her thumb into her mouth. She began sucking it and she began to relax more. Her eyes began to close.
"Go to sleep little one." The Dark One whispered. Her hand still combing through the thick locks.
The baby's eyes began drooping lower and lower until they finally shut. The baby's body completely relaxed and drifted off into dreamland. The Dark One smiled softly at the sleeping child. There is nothing more pure in this world or any other.
"Sleep well, Princess. I will always be here when you need me." She whispered. That's one promise she will always keep.
She had to fight very hard not to love her. That's going to be easier said than done.
With a heavy sigh. The Dark One retracted her hand. She had things to do. Many things so she had to get to it. There was no time to play with a baby. With a sudden hand movement she was engulfed in a cloud of gray smoke then she vanished from the room, leaving the child alone to sleep.
okay well, I have a few chapters already written from when I started writing it way back when. *shrugs* dude, idk...
but, was this even worth posting in the first place?
if nothing else, isn't baby Regina cute? Omg
Anyway, Thanks For Reading! :)