Disclaimer: The reflection on Baelfire/Neal's character in this story has nothing to do with how I perceive his character in the show. I'm just molding him to fit the role of Prince Humperdinck. Same with Regina as she has taken on the role of Count Rugen. I own nothing, but I wish I did. I hope you enjoy! :) Also, the love and support I've been getting from this story has been overwhelming! Thank you all so much!
While Snow and Charming's kingdom was large and peaceful, the verge of war surrounded them. The Dark One's kingdom lied at the heart of it. King Rumplestilskin, in his quest for power, had obtained a castle and kingdom to rule over. Before his wife's mysterious death soon after his transformation to the Dark One, she provided Rumplestilskin with a son, Baelfire. In his first years, Baelfire resented his father's rise to power. He didn't want to be a prince; he didn't want to one day have to rule over a kingdom. He had one love: hunting.
Prince Baelfire was a handsome man with a high humor about him. Over the years, he'd come to find the life of a prince was more enjoyable than he originally thought. His father was in charge, which left Baelfire to his own activities. That's when he found his love for hunting.
He made it a practice never to let a day go by without killing something. It didn't matter what. When he first grew dedicated, he killed only big things: elephants or pythons. But then, as his skills increased, he began to enjoy the suffering of little beasts too. He could happily spend an afternoon tracking a flying squirrel across forests or a rainbow trout down rivers. Once he was determined, once he had focused on an object, the Prince was relentless. He never tired, never wavered, neither ate nor slept. It was death chess and he was international grand master.
In his quest to become the best hunter, Baelfire wished to travel the land in search for the most exotic animals. But Rumplestilskin was protective of his only heir. In order to keep his son from leaving the kingdom, he used his dark magic to create a Zoo of Death. In a quiet, remote corner of the castle grounds, the Zoo of Death was built underground and consisted of five levels. Each level had the proper needs for Baelfire's individual enemies. On the first level, he put enemies of speed: wild dogs, cheetahs, humming birds. On the second level belonged the enemies of strength: anacondas and rhinos and crocodiles of over twenty feet. The third level was for poisoners: spitting cobras, jumping spiders, death bats galore. The fourth level was the kingdom of the most dangerous, the enemies of fear: the shrieking tarantula, the blood eagle, plus, in its own black pool, the sucking squid.
The fifth level was empty.
The Prince constructed it in the hopes of someday finding something worthy, something as dangerous and fierce and powerful as he was. Unlikely. Still, he was an eternal optimist, so he kept the great cage of the fifth level always in readiness.
While the Dark Kingdom, as it soon came known to be called, was powerful and strong, Rumplestilskin was in the height of his greed for dominance. Since the time of his first reign, his kingdom had grown three fold in his triumph of war and victory.
The King had two kingdoms to conquer in his sights: the Charming kingdom and King George's kingdom.
King George was an old stubborn ruler who refused to let his son take the throne, so war against his land wouldn't be too difficult, so war against his land wouldn't be too difficult. The only problem was Rumplestilskin's people. They didn't want to go to war, they had no reason to. He felt if he pushed the war on his people, they might revolt. And if they revolted, he would have to kill them all with his dark magic. And if he killed them all, well then who would he rule over?
So to counter this, he had to trick them. He had to come up with a way for King George to initiate war in a way that would rile the people up so that they would want to go to war.
This was where his second kingdom destination came into play. The Charmings, or the Light Kingdom as it soon came known to be called because of Snow and Charming's legendary love and peace. With them, war was not the proper course of action. Charming had a strong army and navy, as well as support from neighboring kingdoms and their people.
A merge of the kingdoms would have to take place: a marriage.
Rumplestilskin approached his son with the idea.
"Marriage?" Baelfire had responded. "What do I have to get married for? You're the king, and you are going to be king forever. It's not like I'm going to be taking over the kingdom at any point in the near future. What good would a wife do me?"
"It's a political move, dearie. If you marry a princess, our kingdoms can merge. We can have a stronger army, better people, more power. Soon, our kingdom will be so large we won't have to fear anyone. We can take anything we want."
Baelfire rolled his eyes at his father's blabber. Who cared about power? But he reasoned that just because he would be married to some woman didn't mean he had to pay her much attention. He didn't have to like her, he didn't even have to look at her if he didn't want to. His father could create her very own wing or castle where she could have everything she needed without going to him.
This wouldn't be so bad.
"Fine, who did you have in mind?"
Rumplestilskin smiled a sly, mischievous smile. "Princess Emma, the daughter of Snow White and David Charming."
Baelfire shrugged. Of course, he'd heard of her beauty. Who hadn't? But he also knew the way people gossiped and exaggerated. "Does she hunt? I don't care so much about personality, just so they're good with a knife."
"I'm not sure, my boy. But she is well loved within her kingdom as well as others. Her beauty and popularity could be a great asset to our kingdom. I've also heard that she's quite smart."
"People will like me more if I have a pretty wife on my arm. I don't care if she can't spell."
With a wave of Rumplestilskin's hand, purple fog surrounded them. When it cleared, the pair of them were dressed in their most elegant robes and they were standing at the castle gates of the Light Kingdom. Baelfire groaned, he hated it when his father did this.
"What if she is not as she is rumored to be?" Baelfire asked as his father knocked on the castle door. "What if she is simply plain and people think that she is the best I can do and they will snicker?"
The guards recognized the two men immediately and announced their presence to the Charmings.
"True. If you prefer, we can leave?" Rumplestilskin whispered as they waited.
Baelfire shrugged. "We've come this far. We might as well wai –" His voice quite simply died. "I'll take her," he managed.
Charming and Snow walked into the room as Emma trailed behind. The Prince couldn't tare his eyes away from her.
"No one will snicker, I think," Rumplestilskin whispered.
Baelfire nodded, "I must court her now."
"Hello, King Rumplestilskin and Prince Baelfire," Snow greeted, a bit apprehensively. The Dark One's reputation never faltered. "What brings you to our kingdom?"
Baelfire took a step forward, "I have come to request your daughters hand in marriage. The union of our kingdoms would be mighty."
Snow and Charming were stunned. For a few moments, neither knew what to say. They looked to each other, then to their daughter whose face hadn't changed. In fact, for several months since the news about Killian, Emma's beautiful face had become stoic and expressionless.
"Shall we leave the children to talk while we discuss the potential prospects of this union?" Rumplestilskin requested.
The Charmings looked back to their daughter, who shrugged.
"Yes, let's discuss," Charming finally said, gesturing for Rumplestilskin to follow he and his wife into the other room.
When Emma and Baelfire were finally alone in the room, Baelfire stood up straight and tall.
"I am your suitor, a Prince, and you will marry me," he said boldly.
Emma raised an eye brow and scoffed. "I am a Princess who is free to do what she wants and I refuse."
"I am the son of the Dark One, and you cannot refuse."
"I am the daughter of Snow White and David Charming, and I just did."
"Refusal means war, death," he threatened.
"Kill me then."
Baelfire chuckled. Obviously this tactic wasn't working. "I'm not that bad – how would you rather be dead than married to me?"
"Because," Emma replied, "marriage involves love, and that is not a pastime at which I excel. I tried once, and it went badly, and I am sworn never to love another."
"Love?" Baelfire scoffed. "Who mentioned love? Not me, I can tell you. Look: the union of our kingdoms would be all powerful. Light and Dark joined as one. Your kingdom is in danger. My father has been informed of potential attack against you all by King George. That's what he is discussing with your parents now. A merge joined in marriage between our kingdoms, and you'll never have to worry about the safety of your people again. You love your people, right?" Emma nodded, contemplating what he was saying. "So why are you keeping them in danger?"
"I don't. But I'm not so easily manipulated by the silver tongue of the Dark One's son," Emma hissed. "But, I'm also responsible for my kingdom and my people's future. If what you say is true, if we are in danger, I will talk with my parents and contemplate your request. But know this, if I do marry you, I will never love you."
"I wouldn't want it if I had it."
After a week of family meetings and Charming sending out spies to King George's kingdom, it was official. An attack was being planned on their kingdom. Snow tried to insist that their army and navy was strong enough to fight against it, but Charming had been swayed by Rumplestilskin's insistence that together they would be a stronger force. Snow didn't want her daughter to be married to the Dark One's son. Emma had listened quietly.
When Snow asked what her thoughts were, Emma simply sighed. "It would be irresponsible not to marry him. I am the princess, future queen of this land and its people. I must protect it in any way I see fit. My happiness died many months ago, so what I want doesn't matter. I will marry the Prince."
Three years of preparation, politics, and negotiation passed by the time the marriage was finally announced.
A large crowd of people traveled from all ends of the kingdoms to gather around the balcony of the Dark One's castle. Rumplestilskin walked out to the ledge and raised his arm, signaling silence.
"My loyal subjects," Rumplestilskin announced in a booming voice amplified by his magic. "In three months our kingdom celebrates its three hundredth anniversary. To celebrate that celebration, we will bare witness to a marriage between kingdoms! My son, Prince Baelfire, will take the hand of the lovely Princess Emma, daughter of Queen Snow White and King David Charming. Some of you have not met the lovely princess, so you will do so now."
The balcony doors opened dramatically as Prince Baelfire and Princess Emma stepped into the open. The crowd gasped.
The twenty-two year old Princess far surpassed the nineteen year old mourner. Her figure faults were gone, the too bony elbows having fleshed out nicely; the opposite pudgy cheeks could not have been sharper. Her long hair, still the color of gold, was fuller and curlier. Her skin was wintery cream, and in certain lights, it seemed to provide her with a gentle glow.
The Prince took her hand and held it up. The crowd cheered. Baelfire tried to pull Emma back inside, "That's enough, mustn't risk overexposure."
Emma pulled out of his grasp, he may have been strong but she was strong too. "This is the first time I am meeting your people – soon to be our people. They have waited long enough. I would like to walk among them."
"We do not walk among commoners unless it is unavoidable in this kingdom," Baelfire insisted.
Emma shook her head. "Well I do in my kingdom. Just as I will in our kingdom."
And with that she left the balcony, reappeared a moment later on the great steps of the castle and, quite alone, walked open-armed down into the crowd.
Baelfire watched from the window as his fiancé defiled him. He shook his head, she was going to be a hard one to break.
A figure appeared next to him, but he recognized the form long before they made it next to him. As a hunter, his attention to his surroundings were impeccable.
"Countess Regina," he announced. "Lovely of you to make it to my wedding announcement."
She scoffed, "You think I would miss this?"
Regina was Baelfire's confidant, at his father's insistence. Apparently Regina and Rumplestilskin had worked together in the past and the man trusted her enough to deem her Countess of the kingdom and Baelfire's advisor. She preferred that her identity wasn't exposed outside the castle, however. Apparently whatever work her and his father had done together had been… messy.
Like his father, Regina was a master of dark magic. In fact, the way his father berated her whenever she made a mistake, he was under the impression that it was his father who had been the one to teach a young Regina.
Baelfire wasn't sure of the entire history, nor did he care. Regina was good at getting things done and assisting him in his hunts, and that's all he cared about.
"Look at her," Regina groaned, "welcoming the people like she really cared. No one could be that good hearted. Especially the daughter of Snow. An entire family full of good people calls for deviance and lies."
"The people do seem to love her," Baelfire said in a bored tone. "Come, harp on it no longer. Let's go have a good hunt! I'm thinking something in the third floor today, what do you think?"
"If you insist, my lord," Regina replied, pulling up on the gloves that sat over her hands.
Down below, Emma was moving amongst the crowd, shaking hands and hugging people. Most of the people there would never forget that day. None of them, of course, had ever been so close to perfection, and the great majority adored her instantly. There were, to be sure, some who, while admitting she was pleasing enough, were withholding judgment as to her quality as their queen. And, of course, there were some more who were frankly jealous. Very few of them hated her.
And only three of them were planning to murder her.
Emma, naturally, knew none of this. She was a princess by nature. So she kept her posture erect and her smile gentle. And that her death was so close would have only made her laugh, if someone had told her.
But –
- in the farthest corner of the kingdom –
- in the highest building in the land –
- deep in the deepest shadow –
- the man in black stood waiting.
His boots, pants, and vest were black and leather. His hair and his mask were black, blacker than raven. But blackest of all were his flashing eyes.
Flashing and cruel and deadly…
"Kari: This is so good! Please update fast!:)" Thank you! I'm trying! Lol.
"Lisa1972: *sniffle* this last chapter was sad :(" It was sad! I apologize. But that's the way the story goes... unfortunately.
"Clattering: I remember the first time I saw the Princess Bride...you are bringing it all back! Lovely to imagine Killian as sweet and unsullied...more please." I imagined Killian as the stable boy in this story as Killian on OUAT was when he was in the Navy lol. All "good form" and what not. Maybe we'll get some current Killian in the future ;)
"HookedOnCaptainSwan: You're writing this perfectly! I love it (: I can't wait for the next chapter :)" Thank you! I'm so glad you are enjoying this rendition! :)
"behager: Ok, so you are just gonna leave me there? COME ON, I want to know what happens, even though I have a guess hahahahahaha love it :)" Update! Update! Lol. I promise I won't take too long between chapters! I'm very excited about this story so I plan to focus on it! I'm glad you're liking it! :)