A/N: Alright, I've been watching Once Upon a Time since season one, and I realized I have not once posted a story. I got this story idea after watching the season 5 premiere and hearing all of the Dark Swan buzz. I was just dying to play a bit with how Emma could be as the Dark One. It's going to be a pretty major AU, but certain elements from season 5 may leak through intentional or not. Romance is not going to be the main focus, but pairings will most likely be included, just not the main focus. I hope you enjoy this little intro.

Chapter One

They ran. It wasn't much further to their camp. They had to make it before dark, Neal knew this. Though he was only eight, he had grown up in this life, running, hiding in the shadows, trusting few and hurting many, lashing out like the wolves in the forest, one of whom bowed its ears back upon their approach, the one that guarded the outskirts of camp.

"Easy there Red. It's Henry." Neal watched with baited breath as his companion held out his hand, palm up toward the wolf.

Henry was an outspoken young man and at twenty-two years of age, had become much like a brother to Neal and his best companion. Besides his grandmother, Mr. Gold and Belle, Henry was the only one Neal ever went to with anything.

"Get yourself together." Regina threw the cloak upon the wolf's now docile form, and in its place, a woman pulling on the hood before running to where some clothes were hidden behind a rock.

Regina inspected the two boys, Neal squirming under his grandmother's stern gaze. "You weren't followed were you?"

"No." Henry's face was drawn, the tentative safety of the camp outskirts enough to pull away at his mask of calm, a contradiction to what he said next. "I don't think Swan even knows where we set up."

"You don't seem sure." Regina replied, her mouth puckering as she placed a firm hand on Neal's shoulder pushing him further into the boundaries even as she still addressed the eldest of the two. "Be honest with me."

Neal bit his lip, the shuffling he had seen in the bushes still fresh on his young mind. "I saw something." His voice was soft.

"You what?" Henry turned. "When?"

"A rustling…" Neal's breath shuddered. "It could have been the wind… I don't really know."

Henry let out a hiss as he began pacing, the sword on his belt swinging as he walked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Now, why would he do that?" A disembodied voice cold as frozen moss rattled the area and a plume of black smoke appeared in front of them; the Swan in all her wicked glory.

Neal had never seen the Swan, only knew two things: the Swan had something to do with his parents' disappearance and that because of her, everyone around him was afraid and bitter.

"Neal… sweetheart…" Regina's voice was deadly calm. "I need you to run okay? Tell Gold."

But he couldn't. He couldn't move even if he had wanted to. It was like his boots were stuck in quicksand. He was transfixed as Henry drew his sword in shaking hands, as with a simple flick of the Dark One's wrist it was tossed aside like a young lad's plaything.

"I'm surprised at you Henry." The Swan gave a serpentine grin. "It's going to take much more than a sword. You should know, you read the book."

"Why are you doing this?" Henry shouted. "Please just try to remember." His voice wavered on the last word as he stood erect, fists clenched at his sides.

"Remember?" the Swan sneered. "I've never forgotten. I've just seen things a bit clearer." She turned to where Neal stood watching with wide, fearful eyes. "Brother mine."

Neal shrunk back as the Swan strode toward him, shivering under the woman's touch against his cheek. "I... I don't…"

"You mean you didn't tell him?" She spun as her face curled up, and soon she was laughing. "Oh, this is grand. I almost forgot how picky you could be with your secrets." She walked to Regina. "I had something planned, but I guess I'll leave you to deal with the fallout. Until next time Your Majesty." And with that, the Swan disappeared in a bigger, far showier plume of smoke. Just like that, Neal collapsed to his knees.

"Are you alright?" Regina and Henry were beside him in an instant, Henry holding out a hand which Neal reached for.

"I… I couldn't run. You told me to run, but I couldn't." Neal hiccupped.

"She loves doing that." Regina rolled her eyes, a glimmer of a past life, of darkness' intoxicating hold entered her thoughts. She shook her head. That was a long time ago, and she wasn't that person anymore.

Neal noticed Henry wasn't saying anything. His head was down and he was kicking at the dirt with his foot. "Henry…"

"Let's get you back to camp." Henry's voice came out rough with emotion as he put a guiding hand on the young boy's shoulder.

Neal nodded sighing softly as he let himself be led to safety.

A/N: Alright, so in case you couldn't tell by the summary, this is sometime into the future, seven or so years. I will include some flashbacks in Once Upon a Time fashion,but I'm not certain to what extent they will be included just yet. Leave thoughts, ideas, suggestions. Who knows? They may just find their way into the story. In case you were curious, I am picturing Neal as Levi Miller. Let me know what you think fellow Oncers. Would you like to see more?