Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

AN: I'm back! Sorry for the delay in any sort of updates. So, this is my newest story. I was going to hold off on starting to publish, but I decided it's time to jump back in with both feet. So, this is the prologue of my new story, Treacherous, and I hope to have an update for Lost Souls out this weekend and then next week the next chapter of Treacherous. I'm aiming (note this is a goal, not a promise), for one update a week, alternating between Lost Souls and Treacherous. I'm very excited about this story, I've never done a piece quite like this. A disclaimer, I was a history major in college, so yes I know the actual time line for the American Revolution like the back of my hand, but no, I'm not planning on being 100% historically accurate. Think of this as historical fiction, meaning I plan on taking quite a few liberties. Just a fair warning. I hope all enjoy this story and I look forward to reading your reviews! ~ XOXO MAS

Boston – November 1773

"You're asking the government to wage war on us."

"And not just any government, the greatest in the world. Their navy alone would destroy us."

"If we must fight, then we fight."

"Fighting is never the answer. One should not give into one's dark side."

"We can't be subjected to these taxes. If we were living in England we would not be paying them. The king and Parliament cannot expect us to stand idly by while they impose such harsh conditions upon us."

Prince David tipped his chair back as he studied the room. The group was in Granny's tavern, the door locked, working under low lighting praying to God that no British soldiers would wander inside. Each man had his own opinion as to how to handle the Tea Tax Parliament levied in May. As a member of the crown family, David understood the necessity behind the tax. The East India Company was floundering. Its profits were down, losses were high. A large part of that was due to the underground tea smuggling happening in different British ports around the world. The American colonies were not the only British lands dealing in smuggled tea, but they were the easiest to control, the easiest to tax. So now the East India Company shipped tea to the Colonies duty free, while the colonists were forced to pay severe taxes under the Townshend Act. Even though his family was exempt from the taxes, David saw the toll it was taking on his fellow neighbors. Now it was seven months later and the people of Boston we ready to protest. That need to gather had led to a clandestine meeting at Granny's.

"You've been awfully quiet, mate." David looked up as the chair next to him was pulled out and occupied by Robin Locksley, his step-sister's husband.

"Aye," David agreed. "Just trying to wrap my head around the problem at hand," he admitted, scratching his head. It was complicated. The fact that he was included in any of the discussion surprised him. He hadn't expected to be welcomed into the folds of even the upper class in the Colonies. He assumed it would be much like court at home in England. If anyone spoke to him, they wanted something. Life was different in the New World, though. The people trusted him, they saw that he and his wife were a part of society, they didn't hold themselves above everyone else.

Glancing around, Robin leaned forward, tapping the back of David's hand to get his undivided attention. "You realize that by us being here-"

"We're going against my father and Regina's mother." David replied. "The bloody king and queen of England." David nodded. "Yes, I know."

"And this is the beginnings of a political protest," Robin continued. "Things are uneasy at best right now. Small protests have been cropping up all down the coast. If we're not careful we could start a war with Parliament. A war we are not equipped to win."

"Is your only purpose here tonight to state the obvious?" David snapped irritably. He knew the consequences of this meeting and he knew what was likely to happen. He could smell a revolution brewing. A war with Britain seemed to be the only way. A war with his own father.

Robin snorted. "Are you sure that you and Regina are only related by marriage?" He asked. Nearly ten years ago King George of England remarried after his wife passed away. He married the younger sister of the queen of Germany, Cora, who was also recently widowed with two daughters, Zelena and Regina. They formed quite the family. King George had not been well-liked by the people of England and by the Parliament. He was seen as weak. His twin sons, James and David, were well-respected by the members of the guard and the people loved them and their wives. Cora had been welcomed hesitantly. The people, however, did seem to like just how strong she was and her daughters, Zelena and Regina were beautiful and fierce. Over time, England had grown fond of the mismatched royal family. The marriage did much to strengthen the control the British crown had, but it seemed that over the past year or so, George was starting to lose his mind. Cora had taken over many of his responsibilities, discreetly of course. Now it looked as though the great British Empire may begin to crumble. Starting with the potential loss of the Colonies.

It probably did not help that one of his sons and one of his step-daughters had moved to the New World to get away from life at court.

The year before David and Regina packed up their lives and boarded a royal ship bound for Virginia. Now both were residing in Boston with their spouses, Mary Margaret and Robin, and their sons, Neal and Roland.

And they were both unimpressed with the way Parliament, King George and Queen Cora were managing the Colonies.

"It's treason," David mumbled absently.

"What?" Robin asked.

"What we're doing here in this tavern. It's treason. Treason against my own father. Treason against my blood," he answered softly as he studied the room. The group of men and women in the tavern were talking of ways to subvert the tax laws imposed by the British government. The underlying tone was that of independence for the thirteen colonies in America. If that happened and David and his family were a part of it, they would never be allowed to return to England.

Robin nodded in agreement at his brother-in-law's words, offering, "Would you rather we take our leave? If we wanted we could separate ourselves from this mess and-"

David sighed deeply, scrubbing his hand over his face. "No," he interrupted. Standing, he immediately commanded the attention of everyone in the room. "This debate over how to handle the new taxes levied upon the citizens of Boston is pointless," he told the crowd, as he glanced around in search of his wife. She was the great orator between the two of them, he was far better with a sword. "If we want Parliament to change their ways, we have to do more than just talk and petition them." He paused when his eyes locked on Mary Margaret's. Her green eyes sparkled up at him encouragingly. "We have to act."

"Act?" Lancelot, one of the members of the military, ducked his head. "Your highness, with all due respect, what you're suggesting is an uprising against the government. Against your government. It's treason."

David nodded. "Yes, it is," he agreed. "A political protest, though, is the only way to make our opinions known. They're an entire ocean away," he motioned off to his side, "how can Parliament or my father understand what it is we face over here when they live in England?" He asked rhetorically.

"You're honestly suggesting we fight the British government?" Kristoff, the owner of the ice shop, shook his head. "You're out of your head."

"If we do this," Dr. Victor Whale swirled the whiskey around in his glass, "we'll have to find a way to distract any soldiers that could be ambling about. Whatever it is we plan has to be well hidden until we execute it. We don't have the means to fight them at the moment."

"And whatever we do would have to be meticulously planned out," Philip, the younger son of a duke, reminded them.

"And if we want it to be a big event, one that is noticed, we'll need more people," Sean, another nobleman's younger son, offered.

David nodded. "For now, though, as we plan out our attack, everything we have said stays in this tavern amongst these people." He looked around. "Are we agreed?"

Fifteen minutes later the clandestine meeting broke up, leaving just a few in the tavern, Mary Margaret approached her husband cautiously, noting the wary look on his face. "Are you alright?"

"You must think I'm crazy," he murmured, reaching out to stroke the head of their small son.

She shook her head, reaching up to card her fingers through his hair as she shifted their sleeping infant, Neal, in her arms. "No, I think you're honorable, fighting for something you believe in, fighting to help your people," she whispered confidently. And she did believe that. George, Cora and Parliament were doing everything to hurt the people who lived in the Colonies. They were subjecting their own people to harsh laws and taxes and it was time to do something about it, time to step up and help their people. She was proud of her husband for being so willing to take a stand. And she would gladly fight or organize beside him.

Regina cradled her four year old son in her arms as she approached. "Mary Margaret is right, David," she confidently told her step-brother, "and we have a way to subvert British soldiers. A way to gain information that could aid us when the war inevitably begins. And there's no sense in waiting, we may as well begin our work now."

David and Robin both raised a brow. "And how exactly would we do that?" David asked.

"You'd use us," Regina answered simply.

"You?" David snorted. "Regina, no soldier would ever be distracted by you. Not in that way, at least," he amended. "I mean everyone knows you're married and you're a-"

"Do not use the 'p' word," Regina snapped. "And of course we don't mean either of us." Regina motioned between herself and Mary Margaret. "But we certainly know many women who'd be willing to distract soldiers in taverns and perhaps even wheedle information out of them."

David and Robin shared a look. "Just be discreet," David requested. "And very careful."

Mary Margaret and Regina smirked. "I think we can handle that."

OUAT

Emma Swan placed two glasses of honey wine in front of Regina and Mary Margaret. "Is there anything I else I can get the two of you?" She asked.

Regina looked around, all the patrons were engaged in their own conversations and gambling games. "Have a seat."

With a resigned sigh, Emma settled on a chair across from the two women. She'd gotten to know them both over the past year since they'd come to town. Life in the colonies was much different than life in England. Back in England Emma would've never come across members of the royal family. Perhaps it was just because of which members of the family were here, but everyone in Boston knew the four of them and they were always in town milling about. Most people found they liked the informal nature of Prince David and Princess Regina. "What can I do for you, your highness?" She asked.

"Meet us here tonight after the tavern closes." Mary Margaret leaned forward. "We have something very important we'd like to discuss."

Emma frowned at the women. "Does it have to do with what you all were doing here long after closing yesterday?" At their questioning looks, Emma snorted. "Granny was grumbling about things left out of place and I know I was meticulous when I closed the tavern last night.

"We can't discuss it now," Regina snapped.

Nodding her head in submission, Emma agreed. "Of course, your highness."

OUAT

It was hours after closing time when Emma returned to the tavern. With her she had a boy she'd found digging for scraps in an alleyway a few years before. Since then she'd taken care of him, giving him a place to live and the attention that she didn't have growing up in an orphanage. "This shouldn't take too long, Henry," she assured the six-year old as she pushed open the door.

"It's okay, Emma." He tugged off his coat as they entered. "There are a lot of people here," he observed.

Emma frowned at the group. It was mostly members of the upper class. She'd see them in the tavern, but hadn't associated with any of them on a personal level. "Mhm," she agreed. "Granny's at the bar, why don't you go get something to eat and drink from her." She pressed her small bag of coins in his hand. "Go on, Henry," she urged as she maneuvered her way through the crowd of men to where the women were seated in the back.

"Oh, good, you're here." Mary Margaret motioned to an open seat.

"What's happening?" Emma asked, turning to face Ruby, Granny's granddaughter and the only other barmaid at the tavern.

"I've no idea," Ruby whispered. "I do believe the men have been discussing the Tea Tax, though. They are very out of sorts over it."

"Understandably," Emma grumbled. "I've considered forgoing purchasing any more tea, or anything else that comes off an East India Company ship."

"That is what we're here to discuss. How you all can help us handle the Tea Tax."" Regina drew the group's attention.

"What on earth could we help you with?" Emma asked.

"We're planning a political protest," Mary Margaret responded.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS