Author's Note: Oh how I hated that they made Swan the Dark One. This fic intends to correct that, by introducing an OC to take the place of Swan. My intention is to carry this story on, through the rest of the fourth and fifth seasons. Not going to be in Storybrooke, primarily, but in the Enchanted Forest where Swan winds up. Hope you enjoy this, because I am loving it. Here's 2 full chapters, and one partial.

Once Upon A Time – AU

Seduction of Power

Dante Sellers

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Chapter 1 – Fool's Mistake

Amidst a forest of green, was a seal of gold on top of a set of broken bricks. It started to move, dropping the center circle several inches to reveal slots inset into the rim. From these slots a liquid like oil poured into the depression and roiled as if boiling, but there wasn't any steam rising from it. When the substance ceased to pour into the depression, the center began to rise, at first as if a great boil were forming, but it grew as tall as a man, and began to take on the outline of one, before falling away to reveal a six foot, broad shouldered man dressed in a black cloak. The man glanced around, quickly, then raised his hands, removing the hood on the cloak to reveal his face. He had dark brown hair, with hazel eyes. His face was clean shaven, with long side burns.

Dante Sellers glanced around his surroundings, before stepping forward to sit at the edge of the platform. He had no idea where he was. He thought about the last thing he could remember. He had been walking along Main street, more or less mourning the fact that he was alone again for his birthday. While it was a special day for him, he never made it known exactly when it was. No one in town had ever asked him for the date, or thrown a party for him.

They didn't hate him. His daily routine usually saw him up and walking about five in the morning. He'd go for a walk first, usually seeing his friend Ruby. He'd try to keep with her, lasting all of ten seconds at full sprint before the petite woman outran him. He'd tried day after day to keep up, but the werewolf had speed and stamina he couldn't match.

After getting home, he'd shower, shave and head into town for breakfast. Even though Ruby ran far longer and further, she'd be waiting tables in one of her infamous outfits, usually to Granny's and the other diner's dismay. He'd eat, read some news on his phone, then head out. Being a multimillionaire had one perk. It meant he had access to money without having to work. That's how he came to live in Storybrooke. After he won the lottery when he was twenty-seven, he threw a dart at a map, hoping for the northern Midwest. His aim was as bad as ever, and he ended up in Maine.

Those first few weeks were the weirdest. Everyone trying to act normal while calmly explaining away everything. That ended when Tiny came through town. Having personally seen the giant on a rampage, the locals accepted him and told him the truth. That they were from what he would term a "fairy tale world."

He had accepted that, and began to learn who everyone was. Knowing they were from a different world wasn't difficult to accept after seeing a rampaging giant. It was actually simpler for him. He liked these people. Simple, honest, caring. He just had to learn to stay out of Regina's way, and not make deals with Mr. Gold, as those were the two main magic users in town. And also the most evil.

Life was simple after that, and he was able get into his routine. After breakfast, he'd wander the town. After the library opened, he'd taken to checking out books to read, making friends with Belle who ran it. She was also into reading, and did her best to keep the books in order, but as she explained to him, the books just appeared and disappeared at will here.

After checking out a book, he'd find a quiet place to read, settle down and let his natural ability take over. Only a book over five hundred pages would require him to take it home, otherwise he'd drop it in the return box as he returned to Granny's for dinner. After dinner, he'd head to the bar where he'd have a drink, then head home.

That was his life, and he enjoyed it. But on his birthday, every eighteenth of June, he'd forgo the beer and walk around feeling sorry for his lot in life. That night though, he saw Regina being attacked by some kind of dark energy. He saw the "heroes" try to save her by plunging a knife into it when a bright flash of light knocked them all back.

He'd been close enough to see the knife land near him, and he didn't hesitate. Regina might have started out being evil to the heroes, but she was trying to be a better person. So he grabbed the knife and plunged it into the darkness attacking her.

And now he was here. Minus the dagger. Well, it was probably enchanted just for that one attack anyway, or had been destroyed. He waited mainly because he knew the heroes would come for him. He'd listened to enough of their tales in the bar at night, or at granny's in the morning. They'd always come for the missing friend. So he'd wait.

"They aren't coming, dearie."

He looked up to see Mr. Gold standing there, covered in gold flakes on his skin. He was also dressed in a red leather vest with a black shirt and not his usual fancy suit.

"Mr. Gold?"

"Not quite, but I understand the confusion. I'm the voice in your head. The Dark Ones powers inside you, inside all the Dark Ones. Rumpelstiltskin was one of many," he said. "Perhaps you'd like it if I were Gorgon the Invincible?"

He morphed into a giant warthog, and breathed a gout of flame over his head forcing Dante to duck. When Dante raised his head, the man was back to looking like Rumpelstiltskin.

"Yes, it will be easier this way."

"OK, Pumbaa," Dante said, easing himself back down. "So what are you here for, anyway?"

"To teach you to be a Dark One, of course," he said. "Think of me as your guide. But only till you learned to embrace your darkness and master your power."

"Power? My strength?"

"Magic."

That made Dante laugh. "I come from a land with no magic. And you think I have some?"

"Know you do," He said, smiling. "Prove it to you. You can use this to go where you need to be, like if someone summons you by saying your name three times."

Dante closed his eyes, leaning forward slightly to put his weight on his toes. Who knew what this figment of his imagination was going to do. "Picture a mirrored lake, a tall tree with long hanging branches that loom over it. Above it, A beautiful blue sky. Picture it very clearly in your mind."

Dante did as asked, then gasped as the world immediately shifted around him. Instantaneous transport. "Wow," he said, looking around him. "That was me that did that? And not you?"

"I'm only in your head, a figment of your imagination. I'm not really here. No one else can see or hear me. Just you."

"Great. What else can I do now that I couldn't before?"

"Well, you don't need sleep for one. Won't ever get tired."

"Sweet. So all I have to do is embrace the darkness?"

"Yes, embrace the power you wield. Use it however you want really. You can make deals like Rumpelstiltskin, or you can spread terror throughout the land like Zoso. You are the most powerful magic user working in the realm. There's only one thing you can't do, no matter how you try."

"What's that?" he wondered. He'd heard once growing up magic had three basic laws. So if there was one thing he couldn't do, he wanted to know it.

"You can't bring the dead back to life. It's beyond our power. You can go back in time, make a person like another, and kill as easily as breaking a twig, but dead is dead."

"Great. Don't have anyone I want to bring back anyway."

"Good. You have a customer coming. She's the reason you're here. You can make a deal with her, or kill her. Makes no difference to me."

With a wink he disappeared, just as a girl in a green plaid cloak over a blue dress and long wavy red hair stepped into view. She paused as she looked at him, taking in his gray robes. Dante also noted she was carrying a bow in her hand, with a quiver on her back. There was also a sword on her belt.

"Who are you?" She asked, in a thick Scottish accent.

"Dante, and I bet you're going out looking for trouble."

"Aye. Me brothers were kidnapped by the United clans of my country. Just three wee, innocent boys. All because of me."

"I could help you with that. Are you willing to make a deal with the Dark One?"

"I thought Rumpelstiltskin was the Dark One."

"I'm his replacement." Dante explained, stepping forward.

"What will it cost me?"

Dante moved close beside the redhead, running a finger under her cloak, "Well, I'm sure we could work something out."

Merida slapped his hand away, and stepped back. "I'll do no such thing!"

"Have it your way," Dante said, stepping back with hands raised. "Unified clans, huh? Wonder how much they'd pay for me to kill you. Seems that if they have to resort to taking children they could use my services."

Merida was about to turn away when the last of his words caused her to turn back. "You would kill me?"

"If they pay. They want you out of the way anyway, am I right?"

Merida started to glance around, then placed the tip of her bow against the ground. "What do you want to stay out of this unless I call you?"

Dante glanced her up and down. "Let's start with a kiss, miss. Then if you need my services, we can move on to," he glanced down at her small frame, "other things."

"If need be, we can discuss that then. Alright thought, you have a deal. A kiss if you stay away from the clans until I summon you."

Dante moved back up to her, then wrapping his arms around her, leaned in over her. Merida leaned her head back and then their lips met. For several long moments, Dante enjoyed the kiss. He knew it was unlikely he'd ever find the people who held her brothers, but it did get some joys in life bluffing he could.

After the kiss, Dante let her go. Merida wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve. "How do I summon you if I need you?"

"Just say my name three times, and I shall appear. Might need a moment, still getting used to magic."

"Dante, yes?"

"Yes. Until then my dear, ta." Dante then imagined the pile of rocks he materialized at, and appeared there. It was so much easier than walking through the woods.

Chapter 2

"Well, at least you got to kiss the girl."

Dante whirled and saw Figment leaned up against a tree. "The young girl will most likely be needing my services. Just a feeling."

"Time will tell. For the Dark Ones, that can be a long time. Ever since Nimea drank from the Grail. We're all immortal."

"Great, wasn't looking forward to growing old anyway. Did Rumpel have a house or something here? Kind of hard to just stand around doing nothing with no roof over your head."

"Hmm, yes. He did have a castle. Fell apart, sadly. Not much fit for habitation, still, might do you as a beginner castle."

Dante thought it over. It was better than sitting around on a pile of broken rocks. "Alright, can you describe the setting for me?" He described the setting, and with a billow of blue around him, materialized in a ruin of a castle. "Certainly falling apart."

"Should have seen it when Rumple was here to take care of it."

"I'm not nostalgic, Figment. For me, it's better to start over. Build better, stronger, more," Dante said, gauging the distance to the wall from the castle and realizing that this place was more likely some king's vacation home, "spacious."

"It'll make a good start. Right now you got nothing but the clothes on your back. Speaking of which, you can use magic to change your clothes."

Dante looked down at the dark cloak he wore. It definitely wasn't his normal attire. "Let me guess, picture myself wearing the style of clothes I want, and let the magic build them?"

"Got it one, dearie," Figment said, rubbing his non-existent hands together. "But this land favors leather over the cloth of your realm. Just remember that when you design your new suit."

Dante began to imagine his clothes from before. He was always fond of his blue jeans and western shirts, but images of Mister Gold in his fancy suits and Figment's leather attire intruded on his thoughts. Shaking his head, he instead imagined himself naked, then built his new suit from the ground up.

He gave himself black silk socks, to insulate his feet from the boots he would wear. The boots were more of a traditional cowboy boot, with a sharp point. The tops hugged his calves and he gave them a zippered side to allow him to remove them easily should he need to play normal. He then imagined a pair of form fitting black leather pants, with a thick silver belt with a dagger style prong against a snakelike frame.

He looked at the image in his head, then changed the boots to a motorcycle style boot with a silver harness at the ankle. He kept the toe pointed, but added a silver boot tip that his brain engrained the dagger he had used to destroy the darkness attacking Regina onto. Liking the way it felt, he left it. Moving up, he went through several shirt ideas, finally settling on a red silk shirt with a full collar and silver buttons. He added a black snakeskin double breasted vest to it, using scarlet pearls for the buttons.

It was a good look, he thought, then placed a black silk dress cravat around his neck with a silver pin. He concentrated on the pin and inserted a silhouette on the silver surface, that of a rabbit's head, with one ear bent slightly forward and one ear straight up. Once done, it was simple to let the magic flow over him, changing the loose robe to the form fitting clothes he decided on. He looked himself over, liking the overall look, then noticed the dagger engraved on the boot tip.

"Our symbol," Figment said, being serious after noticing Dante's look. "That symbol is the mark of the Dark One, the dagger to which we are bound. Even now, it bears your name, Dante. Should anyone but us wield it, they control us. It, and only it, can kill us."

"So, say I catch an arrow to the heart?"

"Right back to where you started," Figment said, smiling. "Nimea done us well. Only our dagger can kill us."

"A dagger that controls me," Dante said, not happy as he inspected the ruined castle. He tested making a fireball, smiling as the flame poured into his hand. He tossed the ball up, then threw it at the ruined bookshelves. The fireball exploded as it hit, spreading fire across the wood. Dante then extended his hand, extinguishing the flame.

"So much to learn," Figment said. The lessons began.

Chapter 3

It had been days since Dante had started his training. Him and figment had been going at it day and night when he felt the summons. Figment had already filled him in on what to do, so it was easy to just poof right to his summoner. It turned out to be the redhead from before.

"Dante, I need your help," she said, arms crossed as she stood in the corner. She obviously wasn't happy, having been deprived of her weapons.

"I'll say. Who'd you upset?"

"King Arthur. I apparently stole one of his boats."

Dante chuckled, poofing around was so much better. "What do you want, my dear?"

"I want you to take me to my brothers," she asked, arms still crossed, "and restore my sword and bow to me"

Dante could feel the sword and bow, just outside the cell. "Now, you want me to take you back where I first met you, or do you know where your brothers are being held?"

"You can take me anywhere?"

"Anywhere you can describe with crystal clarity. Once I can see it in my head, I can take you there," he said, adding a silent 'I hope' as he looked out the bars.

Merida began describing the scene for him, and Dante was able to see it clearly enough that he could transport her when she agreed to a price.

"Now, my dear, as I'm sure you've heard. All magic comes with a price."

"Aye, though I have no wish to be turned into a bear for my troubles," she said.

"A bear, hardly. I'm new to these lands. I have no idea who the rulers are, who the magic users are, and more importantly, what to take from people. To that end, I'm going to have to ask that you owe me. Any one thing I come to you and ask for," Dante said, even as he appraised the magical strength of the bars.

"Any one thing? Even my kingdom?" Merida asked, finally uncrossing her arms.

"Kingdom? Hardly. What use have I for titles of nobility? I am shopping for some land at the moment. Though I have yet to find anything worthwhile. So hard to find a secluded valley, these days"

"Might I suggest you search west of my castle in the mountains. There are many valleys where none of my subjects go."

"That I will, your majesty," he said, nodding. "Do we have a deal?"

"Aye, we do." She said

"First, your weapons," he said, trying to make them appear. He could feel something fight him, and nothing appeared in the blue smoke.

"Don't tell me you've become trapped in here as well," she said, scoffing at his failure.

"I'm the Dark One," he said, steeling his face, then roared "NOTHING STOPS ME!" With a violent kick, he brought the wall by the bars down. Picking up her weapons, he tossed them to Merida just as several guards came around the corner, swords drawn.

He caught the first sword in his hand as its owner swung it on him, then he wrenched it free and kicked the owner in the chest knocking him hard into the wall behind him. He then threw the sword aside, letting Merida don her weapons while he dealt with the guards. The second guard tried to tackle him, but Dante sidestepped him. Before the guard could recover, Dante snapped his neck. The third guard tried to run, but Dante yanked him back with his magic, then threw him into the cell with a loud clang. Dante strode over as the guard tried to raise his sword, but Dante caught his sword arm, turned it around and stabbed it through his armor into the rock behind him.

Merida stood shocked at the sight of an outraged Dante, before he let his features soften back to a normal appearance.

"I really do hate being caged," he said, as he stepped back through the opening. Turning back, he offered his hand to Merida, who took it with a grimace. Once Merida was through the hole, he poofed them to the location she had described, only to find an empty clearing.

"Damn, I hoped they'd be here," Merida said, looking around.

"Well, you're free of that cell," Dante remarked, looking at the dimly lit sky. The sun seemed to be setting, which meant the redhead would be getting tired soon. He didn't get tired, sure, but he doubted that she'd last another hour or two, let alone the whole night.

"Do you want to put up for the night? Or do you have an idea where to head?" he asked her.

"It'd be best to put up for the night," Merida said, shaking her head as she sagged against her bow. "If we're seen, they might attack me, or kill my brothers before I can do anything." She seemed to deflate, as she took in the situation. "We'll make camp here, we can head to the next one at first light.