She wasn't Annabelle when she wore the locket, she was princess Annabelle. Instead of a crown Annabelle saw the locket as a sign of royalty. She ruled over the kingdom of her bedroom and stuffed animals were her subjects. Still Annabelle didn't tell her papa or mama about the locket. She didn't even tell them that she had found a secret passage. It was kind of exciting having such a big secret.

However the next day with the locket hidden under her dress she went to the same hallway again and tried to find the door again and it was gone. She was sure that she went to the same hallway, she even explored other hallways but the door was no where to be found. Oh well...

She had tried once or twice to open the locket but it was sealed shut. She figured that she would need to use her magic to open it but she didn't know how to use it yet. Still the track of a four year olds mind only went so far before she found something else to distract her.

At the age of five, Annabelle had grown 4 inches taller and had lost her baby face. She no longer looked like a baby, she was now a child. It saddened Rumpel and Belle, she wasn't a baby anymore, she didn't even want to be called a baby anymore.

Still Rumpel and Belle were concerned about matters back in Bae and Emma's kingdom. Things were getting worse out there. They could sense it even from far away. Rumpel also had to begin working harder with Annabelle, it seemed as though every day she was getting stronger and stronger and masted more spells quickly.

It gave Rumpel hope that they could return soon, it had been far to long since they had seen the rest of the family. It pained his heart, how much he missed Bae, and Belle missed Emma and Snow desperately. She was also wanting to give Annabelle a friend of her own age.

Annabelle was oblivious to the stress her parents faced, they hadn't told her of the struggles going on back home. She didn't need to know about that. Being that she was five she was allowed more independence to roam about the castle and she could now remember everything. Annabelle still had the locket hidden from her parents. She still loved it dearly and played with it often pretending that she was a princess in it.

Now though she was more curious than ever to open it. She wanted to know why is was sealed shut so tightly. Her curiosity was growing. As she made her way down the grand staircase towards the room where mama read and papa spun she stopped. She could hear mama and papa fighting again. They were fighting over when they should go back home. Annabelle didn't understand why they were fighting, she thought that this was their home. She slid the locket under her dress and slowly entered the room peeking her head through the door. Mama and papa stopped fighting at once. Papa went and sat at his spinning wheel placing his head in his hands frustrated.

"Can I go play in the west wing?" Annabelle asked with a voice not quiet as squeaky as it used to be.

"Annnabelle..." Belle sighed looking flustered, "Do you really need to play there? Can't you stay around here?"

"But I like the west wing, it's so big I can run around without runnin' into stuff," Annabelle explained.

Belle sighed, "Fine, but only for a few hours when the sun is setting you come back here understood?"

"Yes mama," Annabelle said quietly and walked back out. Why were her mama and papa so cross all the sudden?

Annabelle ran up to the west wing holding her arms out as if she were flying. She carefully bounced off the walls making up games in her head as she went along. Suddenly Annabelle heard something, a voice.

"Annabelle..." said a womans voice in a quiet whisper.

"Mama?" Annabelle called out walking the hallways. She felt her heart get colder, dark magic...

From farther down the hallway Annabelle heard a loud creaking noise. Annabelle moved down the hallway and saw the large wooden door that she had found over a year ago. She went to it and opened the door wider. Just as before the torches on the wall all light themselves inviting her down the stairs. She could sense dark magic, it was stronger than before. Still her naïve nature compelled her to go down the stairs into the basement.

It was just as Annabelle remembered, a long hallway with animal cages on either side and at the end of the hallway a room that held an assortment of objects that Annabelle didn't understand. Even a year later she still didn't understand why a scary looking knife had her papa's name on it and she still wasn't allowed to play with knives either.

"Annabelle..." the quiet eerie voice said again.

This time Annabelle would identify where it was coming from, the large concrete box on the opposite wall of the small room. Annabella crawled up on top of a near by crate to see the top of the box. It had a writing on it that Annabelle could now read.

Cora Miller, The Queen of Hearts

Rest In Peace

Annabelle had never heard the name Cora before. She must have been a queen and all of her possessions and jewels must be in the large concrete box, Annabelle concluded. She wished that the box would open so she could see them.

Almost as if the box had read her mind, the sounds of concrete moving started and the thick lid of the box slowly slid off towards the side. Only it wasn't full of dresses and jewels as Annabelle thought, there was a lady in it. Her eyes were closed and she looked stiff as a board. The lady had long dark brown hair, her face looked much older than her mamas', and she was wearing a elegant black corseted dress with red jewels detailed through out. Annabelle never heard of a queen that wore so much black before and she could sense that this lady was magic too but it wasn't the same kind of magic that here papa had.

But she did have magic, just like Annabelle and her papa, she was one of them. Slowly Annabelle reached out her small hand and touched a jewel on her dress. When she did Annabelle could feel her own magic flow through her body, through her hand and into the lady that was before here. A yellow light flowed over the lady and she slowly opened her eyes. They were dark and cold and when her eyes connected with Annabelle she felt her heart get colder.

The lady looked from the childs face down to her neck, at her locket.

"What a lovely trinket..." the lady cooed in a silky voice, "where did you get it child?"

"I found it," Annabelle answered. She wasn't sure about this.

"What's your name child?" The lady asked surveying her.

"Annabelle..." she answered shyly, "are you a queen?"

"Yes pet I am," She said with a grin that Annabelle thought seemed insincere, "who are you? How do you have magic little one?"

"I got it from my papa," Annabelle replied.

"And who is your papa?" the lady asked.

"His name's on that dagger over there," Annabelle said pointing to the knife. Rumpelstiltskin was another word she always had trouble saying.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" the lady asked with a shocked expression, "Rumpelstiltskin is your father?"

"Yeah, and my mama, Belle," Annabelle added.

The fake smile returned to the lady's face, "Well... it's very nice to meet you Annabelle. My name is Cora. Queen Cora"

Dear RBA

The nest has truly fallen from the tree. the other nests have been quarlling for months on end. Many birds from both side have fallen. Our home nest no longer has much sticks and twigs to sustain the nest. Still the birds here are determined to stay out of the quarrels. Not looking forward to winter. Hope you are well.

Love, all of us.

"How did you get your magic? Were you born with it like me?" Annabelle asked. She had snuck down to the basement again to see her new friend, Queen Cora. The two had become considerably close.

Though Cora encouraged Annabelle to keep her a secret. They had formed what Cora called a secret kingdom in the basement where Annabella kept most of her toys now. Cora was the queen and Annabelle was her princess. Together they ruled over their secret kingdom.

"No pet, I wasn't born this way," Cora said sipping her imaginary tea with Annabelle, "As a matter of fact, your papa gave me my magic."

"You got magic from my papa?" Annabelle asked confused. She didn't know that her papa could do that.

"Yes pet, he and I used to be quiet close," Cora replied.

Son,

We want desperately to return we are considering it in the near future. Things here are so peaceful, it doesn't feel right with such even occurring just a tree away. Baby bird hasn't truly mastered the art of flying yet, but she'll fly well enough to return home. I'll bring sticks and twigs.

Love RBA

"Why don't you come meet my papa and mama, I bet my papa would like to see his friend again," Annabelle expressed.

"Not yet pet," Cora said sitting behind Annabelle braiding her hair, "I will someday but not yet."

Cora looked over Annabelle's dress, it was fading blue and had a few tears at the bottom but nothing to noticable, "why is your dress so tattered and plain?"

"I've had this dress for a long time, usually my mama makes my dresses but she hasn't made me a new one recently," Annabelle said.

"What about your papa? Can't he just conjure up a dress for you?" Cora asked.

"Yeah, but he doesn't like to use his magic much. He says all magic comes with a price," Annabelle expressed. She didn't mind much though, she wasn't a very materialistic child because Rumpel and Belle had raised her to think differently.

"Yes but it doesn't have to pet," Cora said to her turning her around to face her.

"It doesn't? But papa says all magic comes with a price," Annabelle said confused.

"That's only for people who aren't willing to pay the price," Cora cooed to her. With a wave of her hand over Annabelle's head a dark black smoke consumed her.

When the smoke faded Annabelle looked down and found herself in a dark black dress made of fine material with red ribbons around it that resembled Cora's dress. Annabelle never really cared much for black.

Dear RBA,

We're patiently awaiting your return, we know that with your ability to fly you will restore the nest to it's former glory. We're sending in few birds in return for sticks and twigs but it's not enough. The other trees are questioning your whereabouts. The pressure from the other nests are building about your nest. Still the birds here are strong enough to face bully birds. Miss you.

Love, all of us.

Belle could sense change in the air, it more tense and scared. Rumpel spent most days spinning at his wheel, but this time it was different. He was spinning to forget, he was becoming distant. Belle knew why, he was worried about the Bae and the kingdom. The war was raging on between two neighboring kingdoms. He was scared, so was she.

Belle also noticed differences in Annabelle, like now she braided her hair everyday. Belle never taught her to braid her hair, Annabelle said that she just figured it out on her own. Belle saw no reason to question this. However she was spending a lot more time alone lately, she would disappear but was always in the castle. It began to worry Belle that she was spending to much time alone but Belle just assumed that this was a phase of Annabelle's life that would come to pass.

One morning, the family was sitting at breakfast when Annabelle asked, "mama can you make me a new dress?"

"I though you hated when I made you stand to fit you a dress?" Belle asked.

"I know but I want something nicer," Annabelle said. Now Rumpel and Belle were looking at her confused.

"Nicer?" Belle asked. Belle was in no way fit to create dresses for queens but the dresses that she could make were suitable none the less.

"The dresses that mama makes you are perfectly fine, besides what do you care? You usually rip or stain your dresses within a few hours of playing," Rumpel said to her.

"I know but I want something prettier," Annabelle whined, "something a princess would wear." This was strange, Annabelle never whined not even when her mama made her stand to make her new dresses.

"Well..." Belle sighed, "alright. I'll make you a new one this afternoon."

Son,

Soon enough the bully birds will not be a problem. Baby bird sixth birthday is not far off, we're almost ready to fly home, soon our nests will reunite. Try to hold the nest up a little bit longer.

Love, RBA

"Cora!" Annabelle cried out as she raced down the stairs, "Cora! Look, mama made me a new dress!"

Cora looked and saw a deep red dress on Annabelle that matched the Locket she kept hidden in the basement now. As she entered the small room and she spun around for her to see with a big smile.

"Oh pet you look beautiful!" Cora expressed. She took the locket off the shelf and placed it around Annabelle's neck and then took her hands spinning her, "You look like a princess. My little princess."

Annabelle giggled as her and Cora spun together dancing in the room.

Papa,

Henry's dead, he died in battle.

-Bae.

Rumpel sat there and stared at the last letter he received for what seemed like hours. The candle light that he read next to had burned completely out with nothing but hot was puddles on the table. The sun was just barely disappearing past the horizon giving the library a warm glow. But Rumpel just felt cold, he couldn't believe this, he could see tear stains on the parchment that Bae wrote on and the sloppiness of his hand writing. Bae was dying inside, they must all be. Rumpel made a decision, it was time to return home. Tomorrow.

Belle stood over Rumpel with her hands on his shoulders, she was crying to.

"Belle..." Rumpel whimpered standing facing her, "we have to go back."

"I know and we will," Belle cried quietly wrapping her arms around him, "We'll stay together. Promise me."

"Promise what?" Rumpel asked looking back towards her but keeping her in his arms.

"That no matter what," Belle began in between tears,"that whatever is waiting for us back home, that we'll all stay together. She needs you."

"I will," Rumpel said pulling her back, "we'll always be together."

They stayed in the embrace for what seemed like forever until they heard small feet running up the stairs.

Annabelle entered the library and saw the stern expression and the tears on her mama's face.

"What's wrong?" Annabelle's little innocent voice asked.

"We're going home Annabelle," Rumpel said as Belle turned her back on their daughter to try to clean up her face, "It's time for us to go back."

"I thought this was our home?" Annabelle asked.

"No sweetheart, where we're going is much better than this," Rumpel said going to her and kneeling down to her so they were face to face, "where we're going we have more family and there are other children there. Children your age so you can make some real friends."

"But I like it here," Annabelle said stepping back from her father.

"But where we're going is even better. I promise you will like it much better," Rumpel replied, "and what's more we'll all be together, plus the rest of the family that we have. You can finally meet your brother Baelfire."

"Are we leaving now?" Annabelle asked.

"No, tomorrow in the morning," Rumpel replied.

"Can I bring a friend?" Annabelle asked.

"Of course you can bring all your stuffed animals," Rumpel smiled trying to comfort her, "all of your toys, your clothes, they're all coming with us."

Annabelle just turned around and ran back down the stairs. She had to tell Cora.

Rumpel stood there at the top of the stairs confused but he decided that Annabelle needed to work this out on her own, he knew that once she saw the kingdom and met the rest of the family she would love it. She just needed time.

Annabelle was racing down the corridors to the west wing. The door was there just as usual, she flung it open and hurried down the stairs.

"Cora!" Annabelle called out.

Cora was there in the small room, holding the knife with her papa's name on it.

"What are you doing with that knife?" Annabelle asked panting.

"Just admiring it," Cora relied cooly placing it back on the stand on the shelf, "what is it pet?"

"We're leaving, all of us. We're going back to where our other home is," Annabelle expressed.

"Where is your other home?" Cora asked.

"I don't know, I've never been there," Annabelle replied, "come with us. Papa says the kingdom is great!"

Instead of answering her, Cora slowly pulled the locket off of the shelf and held it up in the light, "You don't know what this is do you pet?"

"It's a locket," Annabelle said quietly. She could sense something was about to happen but she couldn't tell.

"Have you ever tried to open it?" Cora asked.

"I tried but its stuck shut," Annabelle answered starting to back away. She wanted her papa now, "I can't open it."

"Oh trust me pet you can," Cora said walking towards her. She held out her hand with the locket to her, "take it."

Annabelle took the locket from her and studied it again, "Who's Regina? I think this is her locket, it has her name on it."

"No it doesn't turn it over," Cora prompted.

Annabelle turned it over and saw her name where Regina used to be.

"Open it," Cora commanded.

"I can't," Annabelle said with fear building in her. Something wasn't right.

"Yes you can but you have to want it, use your magic to open it," Cora replied.

"But papa said not to use and spells on anything, I just need to know how to control them," Annabelle cried, "he says all magic comes with a price."

"Come now pet," Cora said walking to her and kneeled down to her level, "aren't you the least bit curious of what's inside? It's just a tiny little spell to open it, it won't be as bad as you think. I promise."

Annabelle looked into Cora's eye, she had that fake grin on her face but she was truly wondering what was inside of it. Cora had never steered her wrong before and she did say it was only a little spell to open the locket. Maybe the price wouldn't be as bad as what papa always said it would be.

So, in focusing all her magic from her body to her hands that held the locket, she concentrated on opening it. She slid her fingernails in between the lock and slowly pulled it open. It opened with ease but once it did a force exploded out of it throwing Annabelle to the floor a few feet back. From the locket a large cloud of purple smoke flowed out of the locket towards Annabelle. It slowly creeped up to the small five year old before the smoke consumed her whole.

"Papa!" Annabelle cried out as loud as she could.