Four years before Princess Emma was born.
Queen Cora and her husband King Henry, of the dark kingdom, Had a baby girl.
They named her Regina and she was the most beautiful baby in the land.
The years past slowly, to slowly for the Queen, she had high expectations for her daughter, in her adult life.
Regina's child years were spent learning how to read and write and exploring the grounds of the palace, but always with a guard
Her only happiness was her father, the horses in the stables and her apple tree, which she had planted with her father.
From the age of thirteen, she was taught the ways of the kingdom and how she should act.
It wasn't until the age of 15, that Regina made her first proper friend, a stable boy named Daniel and it opened her heart, she found herself amazed at how carefree she became, to the point, where she planned to run away with him.
Of course, her mother found out and on the very night, that her daughter planned to run away, she caught him outside of the stables, before he could go inside.
She considered death for the stable boy, but the boy was far to young for such a fate, so she banished him from the kingdom and if he was to return, she would have no choice, but to end his life.
Regina had waited for him, for twenty minutes, in the stables
When the barn door opened, Her mother walked into the stables, with hands clasped together and two guards by her side
"Dearest, did you really believe, I would not find out about your little plan?"
"Mother" she gasped
"No daughter of mine, is going to run away with a stable boy" she laughed
"Where is Daniel" Regina snapped
"He is gone, (she looked on in disgust) I thought you had more sense, than to attempt such a thing, where would you have gone, you wouldn't have lasted a day" she stood rooted and the spot, glaring at her daughter
"I love him, mother" Regina cried
"You do not know what love is, you are too young for such inclinations, you have duties, you are to be Queen someday and I will not have you be weak, love is weakness, Regina"
"Mother!" Regina snapped, tears falling down her cheeks
"You have left me no choice but to banish him from the kingdom and tomorrow I shall have you meet with Rumpelstiltskin, a man who will show you your destiny" she smiled
"I will not, mother"
"Come, you will see things differently tomorrow" she said, gesturing to the barn doors
Regina ran out, straight to her chambers and cried, for the rest of that night
The next day, she did met with Rumpelstiltskin, she had no choice, she thought he was a strange little man, she thought he was mad even, she paid him little attention, and concentrated on her thoughts of Daniel and finding him.
But it was impossible, to do such a thing.
Three days after Regina's 18th birthday, Daniel returned, to see her.
He sneaked into the stables, where Regina stood, patting her horse
"Regina" he whispered, approaching her slowly and she turned round in surprise and ran to hug him
"I have missed you" she said and before he could reply, her mother and a guard appeared
"I warned you, to stay away" she said, approaching them
"I tried, but I can't" he replied
"I will not allow it"
He stepped forward, hands up pleadingly
"You have left me no choice, I will not allow this" she snapped, looking him up and down, then gesturing for her guard, to do the unthinkable
The guard stepped forward and within 2 steps of the boy, he stabbed him with the dagger, that was hidden in his hand
Regina cried out and caught Daniel in her arms, as he fell, clutching to him, hysterically
"HOW COULD YOU" she snapped angrily, looking to her mother
"He knew what would happen, upon his return, this is not my fault"
"I HATE YOU" she screamed
Cora said nothing
Regina cupped Daniels face
"Don't leave me, your all I have" she whispered, tears still falling down her face
He smiled wearily and closed his eyes
"NO, NO" she shouted
"Take my daughter to her room" her mother told the guard and she walked away, leaving her daughter on the ground
For the days that followed Regina felt numb, she hadn't cried since that night.
Only her time with attending her apple tree in the palace garden, slightly eased her pain, like herself. it could not leave the palace and neither truly belonged.
She continued to be taught by Rumpelstiltskin in all matters of politics and darkness
"You will learn" He cackled standing with Princess Regina in the garden of the castle
"For what purpose?"
"To defeat your enemies of course"
"We have no enemies" she replied, still feeling numb
"We will, dearie, you will see"
At 20, Regina threw herself into becoming the best Knight in the kingdom, it was her escape from her prison, but for everyday that she trained, she lost more of who she was.
It took years of tedious training and brainwashing, for her mother to finally believe Regina was ready, to embark on her destiny.
She became closed off, fearless and she even used a few swordsman, for a few minutes of pleasure, to make her forget the world, but it never worked
She was now everything her mother wanted her to be, and her father was too weak to stop.
Regina, stood proudly, in her Black armour and sword, that has been especially made for her, for this day, her shoulder length, dark brown hair flowing down
"Father, The day has finally arrived, I am officially a Knight" she told him, looking at the Knights and swordsman in the grey courtyard
"You will lead them well" he said
"They are scared of me" she said bitterly, then added
"I can't keep living like this. Seven years father, What mother did to me, what she took from me, its eating me alive, that's why I do this" she raised her sword, looking to it
Her mother came to stand next to her
"This is power Regina"
Regina raised an eyebrow
"Will I be going on a mission?" she asked, she wanted nothing more, than to get as far away from her prison
"No dearest, but your day will soon come, where you can truly prove yourself to the kingdom"
A guard approached and bowed
"My Queen, news of our swordsman in the white kingdom" he held out a parchment, that had ribbon tied round
She opened it, knowing what it would say
"Why was our swordsman, in the Queen White kingdom, mother?" Regina asked
"A treaty between our kingdoms dear, why so many questions?"
"I am curious, that is all" she looked down, to the grey of the cobbled ground
"The White kingdom is nothing to be curious about, they are savages"
"Savages you wish to have a treaty with?" Regina sassed
"There will be no such treaty as of now, they have killed our swordsman, this is an act of war" she said disgustedly
Regina clenched her sword and muttered
"Savages indeed"
Thanks for reading :)