Once Upon a Time
There was an enchanted forest filled with all the classic characters we know.
Or think we know.
One day they found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen.
Our world.
CHAPTER 1 - PILOT
IF THERE WAS ONE THING Daciana knew all too well, it was loss. Without a doubt, every time she lowered her guard and opened her heart up to someone, they were ripped from her. As the young girl's sight fell onto the intricate glass coffin, she couldn't help the tears well up in her eyes. There Snow White laid cursed to be in a death-like sleep for all eternity.
If only she had listened to them.
The dwarfs surrounding the coffin wordlessly moved out of the Huntress' path to allow her to collapse beside the coffin and grieve. She was not one to openly show her emotions, her weaknesses, but Snow deserved it. She earned their respect.
Galloping hooves trembled the ground in the distance Daciana raised her head in time to see Snow's beloved Prince Charming to come through to the clearing.
"You're too late," Doc said softly. He hurriedly dismounted his steed and rushed to the group, his red cape flowing behind him.
"No. No!" Charming demanded, "Open it."
Grumpy moved over as he placed a comforting hand on Daciana's shoulder. "I'm sorry, she's gone," he spoke, without a hint of his usual snark. The words caused fresh tears to creep into her eyes.
Charming shook his head, gazing upon his lover's still face, "At least let me say goodbye."
The dwarfs sighed moving to fulfil the Prince's request. Daciana moved to assist them, the glass top was heavy and they were dwarves. Carefully placing the glass lid down, she spun around upon feeling a ripple pass through her, followed soon after by a gasp.
"True love's kiss," she whispered to herself, a smile breaking across her face wiping away the tears that had escaped.
She tuned back in on the couple's reunion as Charming spoke determined, "Well, you never have to worry. I will always find you."
"Snow," Daciana said softly, approaching the coffin.
Snow turned her gaze to focus on the girl who had stepped forward, lowering her hood. "Daciana?" she said, surprised when the girl latched onto her. "You're here?"
"Of course," she confirmed, stepping back to look the Princess in the eye, not believing that she had just come back from the dead. "As soon as I heard the news. I had to see for myself -"
"I'm okay, Daciana," Snow cut the girl off, bringing her back into her comforting embrace. Trying to ease the tension, she joked lightly, "You know, it's almost as if you care about me?"
Daciana scoffed, pulling away, "Of course I care. I just don't always show it..."
"I care about you too," Snow gave a wide smile, gripping her hand in reassurance. "Now I think I would like to get out of this coffin."
Everyone chuckling briefly, Charming rushed forward to lift Snow out of the coffin.
"Good morning, Regina," Evelyn said, strolling into the foyer of the mansion from the kitchen. Two travel coffee cups in hand.
Regina finished applying her lipstick in the mirror before turning to face the girl, taking the offered coffee with a smile. "Good morning," she replied, walking to the base of the stairs, "Henry! Evelyn's waiting to walk you to school!"
They stood in silence waiting for the ten-year-old boy to make his way down stairs. Evelyn chuckled as she heard the young boy hurry to collect his things before he came barrelling down the stairs.
Briefly getting reprimanded by his mother for running, which he dismissed as he crashed into Evelyn throwing his arms around her waist.
"Hey bud," she greeted, ruffling his hair. "You ready to go?"
"Yep," he nodded, heading straight out the door without a glance in Regina's direction.
Noticing the lack of acknowledgment he threw Regina's way, she stopped before closing the door. "I'll see you later." Regina returned a small smile as the door closed.
Evelyn quickened her pace to catch up to Henry. "Hey, why have you been ignoring your mum lately?" she questioned concerned, it began a few months ago. Seemingly without a cause.
Henry and Regina had never been particularly close with her long work hours, he would spend most of his time with Evelyn. But lately, he's been more secretive around her too and opting to go to his wooden play structure near the docks, alone.
Henry shrugged, kicking a few stray rocks as he walked. She frowned, taking a sip of her coffee muttering, "Okay."
"So..." Clearing her throat in an attempt to change the subject, she asked, "How's school been?"
"Good," he responded shortly, his mood brightening as he saw the bus stop come into sight, "Do you think I could catch the bus to school today? I want to show my friends a new comic I got."
"Uh, yeah, sure," she stuttered, watching him run off to the bus stop. Furrowing her brows, she turned to walk into Granny's. Henry never mentioned his friends before, she'd have to ask him about them later.
She wasn't due in for work at the Mayor's Office until nine AM, usually dropping Henry off and grabbing a quick bite at Granny's took up that extra time. However, seeing as today he wanted to catch the bus she had a little extra time to grab a decent meal...and another coffee.
The little bell dinged as she pushed open the door, taking in the welcoming atmosphere of the diner. Walking over to the bar she smiled at Ruby who bounced over to greet her, "Hey! Thought you had to drop Henry's off at school?"
"I did," Evelyn nodded, "he wanted to catch the bus instead though."
"Oh," Ruby said, "Well, what can I get for you?"
"I'll just get my regular and coffee?" she smiled at the waitress charmingly.
Ruby jotted down the order on a pad of paper to put into the kitchen, pausing she rose her brow gesturing to the cup in hand, "You just had a coffee or is that just an accessory?"
"Yeah, but now it's gone and the cup's lonely because it's not fulfilling it's purpose," she grinned, holding out her travel cup.
Ruby rolled her eyes grabbing the coffee pot to refill the cup. "Thank you," Evelyn said, happily sipping her coffee.
"Your pancakes will be out soon," Ruby said, turning to put the order in out the back.
Evelyn thought back to Henry, she couldn't help the feeling creeping into the pit of her stomach that told her the boy was up to something.
Her train of thought was cut off as someone slid into the seat next to her, clearing their throat. "You know too much caffeine can kill you," the thick Irish accent spoke out teasingly next to her.
She took a long, unfazed, mocking sip of her drink responding, "So can a lot of things." Turning to face him, she briefly let her eyes wander over his uniform-clad body before meeting his eyes. "What can I do for you Sheriff?"
Graham smirked catching her gaze, "I think we're on a first-name basis by now, don't you?"
She nodded once, "Yes, but you're in uniform which means I will refer to you as Sheriff."
"If you wanted to see me out of uniform, all you had to do was ask," he whispered jokingly.
She composed herself, raising a perfectly manicured eyebrow, "Graham." He chuckled as she shoved him and to her dismay, he didn't fall off the barstool.
Their conversation silenced as Ruby placed the pancakes with extra whipped cream down in front of her. Glancing between the two knowingly, having seen the interaction and thanks to her unnerving good hearing she had picked up Graham's hushed comment.
"Thanks, Rubes," Evelyn smiled, dismissing the look Ruby was giving the two as she walked away to serve more people.
"Well..." Graham raised himself off the chair saying, "Guess I should get back to duty. The town won't save itself." He swiftly stole a bit of whipped cream, grinning at her as she glared at him.
Shooing him away she chuckled briefly looking down at her pancakes as the bell signalled his exit, ignoring the heat that rose to her cheeks. Feeling a presence return to the other side of the bench she lifted her eyes up to see Ruby silently looking at her, a gleam in her eyes.
"What?" Evelyn furrowed her brows in question, taking a mouthful of pancakes.
"You know what," Ruby said, grabbing a cloth and busying herself with polishing the clean glasses and returning them to the shelves.
"You know the thing between Graham and I is just playful banter, we don't actually like each other that way," she shrugged, ignoring the tug that said otherwise.
"Mhmm."
Evelyn continued, "And besides, even if we did, I'm pretty sure he's already involved with you know who." She had no proof, but after all, she did live in the same house as Regina and she wasn't as cautious around her as she was Henry. Almost like she wanted the girl to know.
"And you and I both know she's only using him," Ruby paused, "Just saying, he'd pick you in a heartbeat." With that she turned and walked away to serve the new customers who had just walked in leaving Evelyn alone to her thoughts.
Her hand reached up to grasp the pendant, a simple crescent moon, hanging off a dainty silver chain around her neck. Something she never took off.
Snow and Charming's wedding day was upon them, and for once everything was going perfectly. Having made a deal with Rumplestiltskin ensuring Regina would never be able to bring harm to them in this land. They finally had a moment to relax.
Daciana watched on with the rest of the audience as the royal couple exchanged their vows waiting with bated breath for them to seal their marriage with a kiss. The crowd gasped as the doors slam open with force, Daciana rolled her eyes placing a hand on her right hip grazing her sword if it were to be needed.
Red placed a hand on the girl's arm stopping her actions, softly shaking her head when Daciana swung around to look at her. She sighed dropping her hand. After escaping the Queen's clutches she had been lucky and managed to avoid all run-ins. No doubt that Regina would be all too thrilled to get the renowned Huntress back on her side.
Regina smirks, taking in the look of fear in their eyes. She briefly catches the girl's eye, her smirk depending as she raises her chin stating, "Sorry I'm late." Gliding across the cleared path towards Snow and Charming, she sends the few guards who stood in her way aside with a flick of her wrist.
"Like you were invited," Daciana scoffs under her breath.
"It's the Queen. Run!" Doc yells panicked, everyone scurries to get as far away from Regina as they could.
Snow draws Charming's sword and points it threateningly at the Evil Queen, who stops in front of the altar, a smirk still ever-present on her face.
"She's not the Queen anymore. She's nothing more than an evil witch," Snow says fearlessly. Daciana stayed on the sidelines smiling proudly at Snow. She had come a long way from the young, scared princess who'd just lost her father.
Meanwhile, Charming places a hand on Snow's arm as he whispers so only Snow can hear while keeping his eyes on the Evil Queen, "No, no, no. Don't stoop to her level. There's no need." Gently he takes the sword out of Snow's grasp, letting it hang by his side. "You're wasting your time. You've already lost. And I will not let you ruin this wedding," Charming speaks louder directing his words to Regina.
This only causes her smirk to get bigger knowing that finally, she has won, there's nothing that can stop her now, " Oh, I haven't come here to ruin anything. On the contrary, dear. I've come to give you a gift."
"We want nothing from you," Snow says in disgust.
Regina begins walking around the room, not once letting her smirk fall as she watches people take a step back, saying,"But you shall have it! My gift to you is this happy, happy day. But tomorrow, my real work begins. You've made your vows, now I make mine."
Speaking to everyone in the room, she continues gloating, "Soon, everything you love, everything all of you love, will be taken from you. Forever. And out of your suffering, will rise my victory."
Pausing in her strides facing the newly united couple, she vows, "I shall destroy your happiness, if it is the last thing I do." Curling her lips in disgust, she turns and stomps away.
Overcome with the need to protect the people she cares about, Daciana runs out in front of Snow and Charming, shouting, "Hey!" Regina swung around in time to watch the Huntress skilfully unsheathe her sword and throw it straight at her target's heart. There's a collective gasp as the Queen disappears in a cloud of purple smoke, along with the sword and Daciana.
Charming protectively wraps his arms around Snow, who rests her head on his chest. The crowd nervously talking amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, Daciana mumbled a string of curses under her breath when the smoke cleared around her and she found herself back in the chambers of the person she'd hoped to never be forced to work for again.
"Henry!" the 24-year-old's voice echoed through the silent mansion, the door slamming shut behind her. If Regina was in the house she would have been reprimanded for her actions. However, she had fortunately been held up at the office. Evelyn went to meet up with Henry at five o'clock, as usual, to get dinner at Granny's Diner before his therapy session in the evening. He never turned up.
Crossing her fingers, Evelyn silently pleaded that he'd simply lost track of time and she would find the young boy in his room reading his comics. Wasting no time she flung open his bedroom door. A silent curse escaped her lips at the sight of his empty, pristine bedroom.
"You are in so much trouble, young man," Evelyn muttered, angrily spinning on her heel to descend the stairs. She had hoped against all odds that he would be there to save both of them from the Mayor's wrath, but luck did not seem to be on her side today.
Roughly an hour had passed since Evelyn arrived home, and Henry is still missing. Evelyn finally called Graham for assistance, who rushed straight over. She also thought that Regina would react better to the news coming from Graham than herself.
Now, Regina was pacing a hole in the living room floor as Evelyn and Graham sat on the couch motionlessly watching. Evelyn sighed, glancing away from her to share an exasperated look with Graham.
"Regina," she said, attempting to grab Regina's arm and halt her pacing. However, she just brushed her hand away and continued.
"Regina. Worrying isn't -"
"Did you hear that?" Regina cut him off, walking as fast as she could in heels to swing open the front door.
"Henry!" Regina shouted relieved, running down the front path to the boy. "Henry...Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened?" she fired questions at him while checking him over for any signs of harm, barely sparing a glance in the direction of Henry's blonde chaperone. Evelyn and Graham watched silently from the doorway of the mansion.
Henry shoved Regina's worried hands off of him yelling, "I found my real mum!" Rushing past Evelyn and Graham without a second glance, they all winced at the slam of his bedroom door.
The blonde looked extremely uncomfortable now that all the attention was on her. Regina stood shell-shocked for a minute, stuttering, "Y-you're Henry's birth mother?"
"Hi..." responded the blonde simply, giving a slight smile and shrug. Never did she think that the baby she gave up 10 years ago would come knocking on her door, let alone claiming that she was destined to save everyone in this town from an "Evil Queen".
Graham cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the blonde as she glanced at him and Evelyn, who stood jaw-slack watching the situation with wide eyes.
"I'll just go...check on the lad. Make sure he's alright." Graham nudged the woman next to him, both of them turning to go upstairs."That's Henry's birth mother?" Evelyn whispered as they ascended the stairs, "How the hell did he find her? It was a closed adoption."
"He's a smart boy." Graham stopped, "You go ahead. I think he needs his aunt more than the town Sheriff right now."
She nodded in response, walking down the hall to Henry's door stopping briefly to knock lightly announcing her presence, "Henry. It's me. Can I come in?"
Hearing movement from the other side of the door, Evelyn smiled slightly as the door clicked open allowing her to slip into the room, "Hey, bud." She sat down on the bed next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Henry was quick to turn to her and return the hug.
"Hey," Henry's muffled response from where he was in her side came soon after.
Evelyn held him close, sighing, "You really scared us today. Please never do that again." She trailed off, "Or at least tell me. As your aunt, you're obligated to tell me everything."
Henry pulled back confused, "Why?"
"Uh, because it's the rules. I don't make them, I just follow them," she said, as if it was obvious.
"But you'd just go to Mum," Henry mumbled, turning his attention to a loose thread on his duvet.
"Nah, can't," she shrugged, "What's said between us stays between us."
"Promise?" Henry held out his pinky.
Evelyn wrapped her pinky around his looking him in the eye, "Promise."
"Madam Mayor, you can relax. Other than being a tired little boy, Henry's fine." Graham spoke as he descended the stairs to meet the two ladies conversing in the foyer. Evelyn had opted to stay upstairs and get ready for bed, considering it was well and truly past the time she should have gone to bed to be refreshed for the morning.
Regina smiled at Graham thankfully, "Thank you, Sheriff."
Bidding them farewell, Graham exited the house to retire for the night leaving Regina to interrogate Henry's birth mother.
Evelyn looked up from the words of the book she was reading curled up in bed when Regina opened her bedroom door. She put her bookmark in and placed the book on her bedside table turning her full attention to the woman who was now sitting at the end of her bed.
Picking up the concern in Regina's stance she asked, "Is everything okay?"
No everything's not okay, Regina screamed on the inside, but she maintained her calm outer appearance. Clearing her throat she looked the girl in the eyes, "Miss Swan said something about a book of fairytales. Henry seems to have gotten these ridiculous ideas from it. Has he said anything to you about it?"
Tilting her head in confusion, she furrowed her brows ignoring the pull at her heart, responding truthfully, "No, I had no idea. Do you think it has something to do with why he wanted to find his birth mother?"
"Perhaps," Regina's tone turned sharp as she stated, "Evelyn. I need you to find out what Henry's keeping from me and what it has to do with this, Emma Swan. I need you to tell me everything you find out about her. Do you understand?"
Evelyn simply nodded and sank down into her sheets, "Goodnight, Regina."
"Goodnight, dear," Regina said, softly brushing a few strands of hair off the girl's forehead with a brief smile. Leaving the room she turned the light off, a smirk taking over her features as the door shut will a click. Removing her hand from her coat pocket where one of her treasured heart's resided and going back downstairs to her office.
"When will you learn Huntsman," Daciana mocked, unsheathing her dagger, skilfully spinning it in her palm. Placing it against the throat of the man she had disarmed and pinned to a tree. Their movements stilled as they caught their breath.
He chuckled briefly, spotting a moment of weakness in her stance. Effectively knocking the dagger out of her grasp, she stumbled backward. Swiftly taking the opportunity, he pinned her to the ground stating, "Never let your guard down."
"Evelyn. Evelyn. Wake up!" a stern voice ordered, abruptly bring her back to the land of the living.
The girl let out a noise of protest lifting the sheets over her head hoping that the disturbance would go away. That was not the case as the blanket was yanked away from her and her eyes fluttered open to see Regina Mills. "W-what?" Dazing at her alarm clock, she sighed seeing it was at least an hour before her alarm was set to go off.
"Henry's gone again!"
That caused Evelyn to get up, her and Regina out of the house and on the way to the station within ten minutes.
So much for promises, huh?
And there's chapter 1! I hope you liked it! It'll pick up in a little bit I promise and boy, do I have some plot twists planned. We won't start seeing some of those until the later seasons though. But I'm so excited! Please leave your thoughts and any critiques/questions below and this is proofread, but if I've missed anything please kindly point it out.
I split the pilot into 2 chapters because it ended up being quite long. Future chapters will be a full episode. Part 2 will be out this weekend!
Thank you for reading :) And special thanks to everyone who has faved/followed and commented on this story!