Hello everyone! I'm not dead!
So this is a little mixture that reached my brain and for the first time I am writing a story involving the OUAT universe. This is a Dark Swan story that involves a bit of time travel and like all of my works this is completely AU. So please if you don't like those types of stories do not continue with this work.
Now this will mainly be told in flashbacks so please do not ask about update or timelines as that will come when they can. Thank you.
Finally the disclaimer. If it is not OC I Don't OWN IT!
Dark Princess and her Knight
Prologue
A groan hit the air as Henry Daniel Mills opened his green eyes, a part of himself feeling sore and tired.
"Damn…a hangover without the pleasure of drinking first." Henry looked over at the voice of Ruby Lucas nearby holding her head. Her voice sounded rough and slightly weak while her girlfriend/true love Dorthey Gale slowly began to wake up as well.
"While crude…not inaccurate." Henry looked up at his adoptive mother Regina Mills as she sat up.
Henry looked around and noticed who else was inside the dinner. "Because of course we'd wake up in Granny's Dinner." He thought looking around.
Along with his mother, Ruby, and Dorthey. He saw his grandparents Mary Margret and David Nolan, Killian Jones, Mr. Gold, Belle, and to his surprise his mom's ex-boyfriend Robin Hood, and her half-sister Zelena.
Or as most people would know them all: The Evil Queen, Red Riding Hood, Dorthey from Kansas, Snow White, Prince Charming, Captain Hook, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Robin Hood, and the Wicked Witch of the West.
You see the characters of your favorite Fairy Tales are as real as the nearest human to you. At one point his mother cast a curse that sent all the characters from their stories into a world without magic to try and find her happily ever after.
As fate would have it Snow and Charming sent their firstborn child through a magical wardrobe to hopefully fulfill her destiny as the 'Savor'. As luck or fate would have it the baby arrived became Emma Swan after living a life in the foster system…and just so happened to be Henry's biological mother.
Boy was that a dramatic day of revelations.
Recently the group had been responsible for trying to end the Curse of the Dark One, the darkness that gave Mr. Gold his power as Rumpelstiltskin. The darkness however wasn't destroyed like they had hoped and instead had tried to find a new host.
Mainly by trying to possess his mother, the former Evil Queen. In an act of selflessness his Ma stabbed the darkness with the dagger of the Dark One…the symbol of the holder of the power…and turned herself into the next Dark One.
Only to vanish in the blackened mists. That was where Henry's memories ended on the matter.
"What happened? Last I remember Ma had just become the new Dark One and we were going to try and save her." He asked looking around, getting looks of confusion from the others as well.
"Then I'd say you are a little out of the loop Nephew." The group all jumped to their feet and looked towards the new voice.
His mom and Zelena conjuring a fireball in their hands, his grandfather and Killian drawing swords, his grandma and Robin knotted an arrow to their bows, while the others readied for a fight.
At the counter of the dinner pouring a cup of tea stood a woman Henry had never seen before. She looked to be in her late twenty's early thirties, with long brown hair pulled back into a bun, Henry was able to see the curls in the strands telling him the woman probably had very wild bushy hair normally.
She wore a black robe like garment with a broach of a golden lion keeping the cloak attached to her neck. The rest of the outfit looked like a dress of older design and was a light blue periwinkle his mind supplied after a moment.
His mom loved to decorate and wound constantly tell him about the different shades of a color if he tried to pick one. She was also surprisingly relaxed for someone who had weapons and magic pointed at her.
Henry decided to speak up. "Who are you? And why did you call me Nephew?" He asked, trying to keep a polite tone while trying to keep his worry hidden.
The woman smiled brightly at him. "That would be because your father and I are practically siblings in all but blood. Have been since he saved my life from a mountain troll when we were eleven." She said, making Regina and Zelena blink in shock.
"A mountain troll…? Was it a juvenile? They are known to needlessly attack homes and villages?" Regina asked the woman who snorted.
"I wish. No, this one was an adult and had been drawn there by a magical who was using it to try and create a distraction to steal a very important magical artifact. I was in the bathroom and didn't hear the announcement of the danger." The stranger paused to take a sip of her tea.
Once done she held up the pot silently asking if anyone else would like a cup. When no one answered her she smiled at Henry once more. "Your father however risked his life and came to rescue me without hesitation or thought of reward." She said, making Henry blink.
"My father's dead." He said, making her pause before face palming.
"Sorry I'm telling this all out of order." She said, taking out a wand. An honest to goodness wand which she gave a swish and flick before a large wooden trunk levitated from the ground.
"Your parents ask me to do one thing and I get lost in nostalgia." She grumbled, making Henry wonder if she had even meant to say those words.
"My Parents…You know where Ma is?!" He exclaimed, making the others in the room blink as well before they lowered their weapons.
"Indeed I do. Last I spoke with them, the pair of them were finishing some unfinished business with the goblins and asked me to come and explain and show a few things to you so you could relax about their safety."
"Goblins?!" Regina, Gold, and Zelena exclaimed in shock.
"What business could the boys' mother have with those warmongering, greed driven, child killing…?!" Gold grumbled.
"I take it you've had dealings with them before?" The stranger asked, making Mr. Gold growl.
"You could say they and I had dealings in the past that left both sides rather…unwelcomed to the other." He explained.
"Um…for those of us who didn't grow up in the Enchanted Forest?" Killian asked, making Henry nod at the question.
"Goblins are a race of warmongers whose greed had only ever been outshone by a dragon's. They constantly fight for lands where they believe gold and other precious metals.
Even going so far as to wipe out entire towns and villages where humans have gathered so no one could lay claim to the land and the valuables found there." Snow said surprising Henry since he expected his mother or Mr. Gold to speak up.
"They mainly stick to mountains and underground passages they've created over time. Honestly the Dwarves have the most problems with them since the Goblins continuously try to take their mines from them more times than not they're driven off by the Dwarves, but every once in a while they succeed." She added explaining how she knows about Goblins without having to be asked.
"There yes, but here they mainly live as bankers, lawyers, and treasure hunters." The stranger said, making the group look at her in confusion.
"You see when Regina cast her curse she failed in one area." She said, making his mom bristle slightly at the comment.
"What area?" Henry asked before his mother could get angry.
"This isn't a world without magic…it's a world of hidden magic." The stranger explained before lifting her wand once more pointing at something behind the group making them all turn to see a projection screen.
"At the dawn of time…" The stranger started tapping a slide projector Henry hadn't noticed before causing it to light up and the first slide to appear. It was the image of mystical creatures roaming the lands alongside humans.
"…Magic was just as much a part of the public life for this world as it was for the Enchanted Forest." She said before tapping the projector again making the slide change. This time the image showed an elderly man wearing robes holding a staff in one hand and a book in another.
"One of the most famous magic users was born Myrddin Wyllt but he would one day become known as…"
"Merlin Emrys." Henry said, making her smile and nod.
"Correct. Now what most don't know about the time of King Arthur was that his father Uther Pendragon held a great hatred for magic and mystical beings."
She said tapping the slide showing a very serious man wearing clothing that could give his mothers Evil Queen persona a run for her money in dramatics.
"Uther held so much hatred and contempt for magic that he was the one to begin the very first witch trials." She continued showing a new image of the same man pointing forth showing knights and other men hunting unicorns, centaurs, and even other humans holding staffs and wands.
"Seeing what the world was to become Myrddin…who had already gained a reputation for wisdom and advice…got himself hired as Uther's adviser." The image changed to show a much younger Merlin standing beside the king.
"The plan was simple. Use his position to keep track of the attacks against magical kind and warn them of the dangers. While simultaneously trying to deter the king's hatred and stop the extinction of the mystical people."
The image changed showing Merlin with an adult male wearing armor. "Arthur was already a young knight by that point and Merlin had hoped to diminish the anger and hate Uther had raised the boy with."
"He succeeded didn't he? I mean Arthur was a good king, so he probably stopped the killing and fighting right?" Henry asked, making the woman sigh before she tapped the projector again, this time the group gasped at the image of a blond-haired woman wearing a red leather jacket.
"Ma?!" Henry called out smiling.
"Your mother upon gaining the power of the Dark One returned to the source of its power hoping that she could find a way to contain it or destroy it." The Stranger explained, making everyone breathe a little in relief.
"However…what she found didn't inspire much hope." The stranger said before the image changed once again, this time of a painting of Emma standing in a field looking on in horror at the death and destruction all around.
"Uther continued his conquest of the land…only now instead of the mystics he rained death and destruction upon his fellow man." She said before the image changed again showing more battle fields, burning homes, and even destroyed castles with Uther riding away.
"Christ on a cross." Killian at the images.
"Quite. Unlike Regina Uther had no excuses for his actions. He simply hated the world and desired to control all of it." The Stranger said before the image changed showing a trio of witches standing around a boiling cauldron.
"Seeing no end to the death, the magical humans began to lose faith in Myrddin and cast a curse. A curse that would come to haunt them." She explained before the image changed showing the witches again only each had been thrown onto the ground as a great evil shadow appeared above the cauldron.
"The witches tried to create a spirit that would rain vengeance down upon Uther and all who shared his ideals calling on all the anger of all who had suffered under Uther to accomplish this. Instead the hate from those both dead and alive combined together and created an entity of pure darkness."
The image changed showing the entity destroying all around it. "Seeing no choice Myrddin sealed the entity away, but his chosen vessel would one day come to haunt him." The image changed showing a baby with wild black hair crying as the entity was pushed into its body.
"Mordred." Henry whispered in fear, making the stranger nod.
"Yes. In an attempt to save the world from the entity in question he created the means of destroying his life's work." She said before the image changed showing Uther laying upon a deathbed while Arthur knelt in mourning.
"Uther continued his acts of violence until his dying day." The image changed showing Merlin placing a crown upon the head of Arthur. "King Arthur rose and did indeed bring about a golden age…for humanity."
She said as the image changed once more showing multiple mythical creatures and beings hiding from knights and other humans. "However , his legacy among the mystical races would hardly be different from his fathers.
While Arthur did bring about peace and prosperity for non-magical humanity…he continued his fathers' ideals that magic and those tied to it were evil and should be wiped from existence."
The image changed showing an aged Merlin looking out in sadness as people were marched into a castle shackled.
"Myrddin still had faith that Arthur could change, but when it became clear to the mystical people that Arthur was just a gentler version to his father they turned to another."
The image changed this time a beautiful woman with long black hair stood with a young adult wearing black armor and to their surprise… "Ma?" Henry asked at the armored blond woman.
"Seeing the death and destruction being caused by humanity, your mother tried to help all magical beings hide from the non-magical humans. Eventually she realized that she alone couldn't fight the fight.
As fate would have it she met Morgana and saved the witch from the same fate as her family." The image changed showing a younger Morgana sitting on a horse with two bodies nearby hanging from a tree with a rope around her neck.
Emma was clashing blades with a knight while a young adult Mordred held the horse in place to keep it from running and allowing Morgana to drop.
"Morgana and her family had been healers at one point in history." The stranger said to the shock of the group. "When it was discovered they used spells and potions in their work they were hunted down.
Her parents were lynched and only her adopted son was to escape such a fate as she awaited her turn. That is when Emma arrived and saved the pair."
"But Morgana was the one who destroyed Camelot and Arthur!" Snow exclaimed, making the stranger give her an unimpressed look.
"At this point she was just a young woman who had adopted an orphaned boy and had used her craft to heal the sick and injured…at no point was she considered a villain."
Snow flinched at the tone while Regina gained a small smile. She knew that there was always more to the villains than stories and myths told.
"After saving the pair Emma took them to a place of sanctuary." The image changed to show the trio among others in hiding and sadness.
"For years Emma worked tirelessly to save as many innocent lives as she could. Since she arrived at the tail end of Uther's rule she saw much of war and the darkness humanity tries to hide."
A few images changed showing Emma carrying bodies from fields, fighting knights to protect children huddled in fear, and finally the sight of her on her knees at the sight of a burning household tears clearly shone in her eyes.
"She and Mordred bonded over time." The stranger said as the image of a young adult Mordred stood side by side with Emma as the pair fought to protect the innocent masses.
"But…I thought Mordred was the Dark One? Why would he…?" Robin asked, looking over at Gold. Many were thinking the same thing Rumpelstiltskin would never risk his life for others.
"Mordred was just a babe when the darkness was bonded to him. Children have an innocence to them that keeps them safe from the darkness of the world…if they keep that innocence." She said before the image changed once more.
Gold looked at the image of Mordred and Emma standing in a field under a moon both wearing leather riding clothes. "It probably helps that his darkness is focused on defending the woman who took him in, the woman who fights side by side with him, and the innocent masses Uther tried to wipe out." He said, making the others look at one another before nodding.
"So…why is he written as a villain?" Henry asked, making Regina sigh.
"Because he was against Arthur…the one everyone considered to be the hero." She said, making the stranger nod.
"Mordred and your mother stood up to Arthur and his anti-magical ways causing many normal humans to view them as demons and monsters." She said before changing the image once more this time with Mordred standing over the body of a bloody Arthur surprising the group.
"I thought they killed each other…or at least that's how the story went?" Hook questioned since even he had heard of the legend of Arthur and the Round Table.
"Mordred won the fight, but before he could saver his victory…he was betrayed."
The Stranger said before the image changed showing a shadowed figure stabbing Mordred in the back with a familiar dagger while Mordred cried out in pain and Emma was shown with a single hand held out in dismay.
"A greedy magical being saw the power Mordred held and desired it for their own." She said, making Gold nod.
"Leading to the creation of the dagger that would forever bind one to the darkness turning the Dark One into an actual curse." He explained.
The image changed showing Emma kneeling with Mordred in her arms crying at his death. "With his death Emma swore to find him again one day and with the power of the Dark One she would remain ageless until she could fulfill that desire." The image changed this time, split in two.
One side showed Arthur being carried in view of his people while the other showed Mordred being carried among the remains of the mystical creatures and humans.
"History went on to call Arthur and his knights great heroes and while he was a good king to his people Arthur would be remembered among the magical beings as the son of a murderer."
The stranger said before Merlin appeared again this time in front of four humans each wearing robes of different colors with badges or crests on them.
"Realizing that there was still much to be done to save magical humans Myrddin took on four students who would one day establish a school for magical humans."
The image changed showing a man with dark red almost auburn hair and beard wearing red robes with a golden lion on the front and a gleaming sword in his hand.
A serious looking woman with long black hair wearing blue robes with a bronze raven on the front, a book in one hand with a wand in the other.
A dumpy looking woman with brown hair and a kind expression wearing yellow robes with a black badger on the front a plant of some kind in one of her gloved hands while a golden chalice was shown in the other.
Finally was a serious looking man with short black hair and a thin mustache wearing green robes with a silver snake, a vial with a potion of some kind in his hand while his other hand held a wand.
"In order the apprentices were Godric Gryffindor, a warrior who valued bravery above all others, his blade famous in its use of destruction of evil creatures. Rowena Ravenclaw who valued knowledge and its pursuit above all else is famous for her works to record many lost spells and other historical items and even creating the diadem atop her head…"
Here the stranger paused as she motioned towards the jeweled tiny crown upon the serious woman's head. "…a tool used to enhance one's ability to concentrate, and retail knowledge."
"Could've used that a time or two." Zelena groused, getting the other magical users in the room to nod in agreement.
The Stranger picked up from there. "Helga Hufflepuff was best known for her warm nature and values of Loyalty and Hard Work above others. Her knowledge of plants also helped in the creation of many healing potions that the cup in her hand was blessed in helping create." Henry looked at the woman in yellow then again loyalty and hard work he knew and understood the value of.
"Finally was Salazar Slytherin a cunning man whose greater focus was on potions and the invention of spells…unlike the other three his legacy is actually infamous."
"You see…" The stranger started a sad expression on her face. "…at the tail end of Arthurs reign Salazar's first wife and child were murdered."
The image showed Salazar kneeling upon the ground tears raining down his face at the image of two pairs of feet floating in the air while a nearby cabin burned. "His wife was a healer and like most healers she used whatever she could to help people."
"Which of course made her evil and the devil's bride in the eyes of the medieval masses." Regina hissed, making Henry grimace at the idea of killing someone just because they were different.
"In those days magical children born to non-magical families were in just as much danger of being hunted and killed. To spare themselves some would sell out other magical beings or sanctuaries.
As was the case with Salazar's first wife and child. Because of the actions of one being Salazar would forever hold a distrust in all first-generation magical beings. To the point that when the school was finished he was adamant that no such children be allowed into the building."
She said showing the four sitting at a round table inside a castle arguing back and forth. "It was the first major conflict between the group that would one day become known as the founders." The Stranger explained in a sad voice.
"Realizing he was out voted Salazar allowed the children to come but made it very clear he would refuse to personally train any of them. He also built a secret chamber just for him and his line to enter that would become legend for some time…but that's another story."
She said before the image changed once more showing a now aged founders' group. "The school became a success and was given the name Hogwarts, a name so ridiculous no one outside of the secret could possibly guess the value behind it.
As the four reached their twilight years they selected teachers from their former students to continue their work and a final gift in the form of the sorting hat." She said motioning towards a frayed looking hat that sat upon a stool.
"The four animated the hat and gave it the ability to investigate the hearts of the one wearing it. This would help sort the children into houses based on the founders and their values." She explained before sighing as the image changed showing four flags each with the crest of a founder upon it.
"As time went by the darker parts of their pasts became more the legacy." She said before pointing at the green and silver banner.
"Slytherin's hatred of magical beings born to non-magical beings was carried on by all who entered into his house at the school and instead of being a house only of cunning and ambition it slowly became a house associated with bigotry and evil.
Because of this mindset many began to classify magical children in different categories. Purebloods who could trace nothing but magical children in their family lines for generation upon generation. Some families even going so far as to perform intermarriage relationships."
Henry, and Hook both looked at the Stranger. "Huh?" They asked together.
"Means they married their cousins and other close family members to keep the line 'pure' dearie." Gold explained to his grandson making the teen and the pirate scrunch their faces in disgust.
"Ugh!" The two said while the others nodded slightly.
After all, since most were royalty or close to royalty they knew that some families used this practice in the past. Heck Regina knew that most royal lines in this realm were connected by blood because of such practices.
"And like all forms of inbreeding there were consequences. Magic kept the physical and most of the medical effects at bay, but eventually even it was so strained that the classification of Squibs was created.
A Squib is the PC term for those born to a magical family…but have no magic themselves." The Stranger explained making Gold, Regina, and Zelena nod in understanding.
"Magic can do many things, but even it has limits." Regina said.
"What happened to Squibs?" Henry asked, making the Stranger sigh.
"Most were banished from their homes and families. A Squib was seen as a black mark against a family in high society. The rest…" She hesitated making Gold speak up again.
"Most likely the rest were hunted down and killed by their own families." He said, making everyone turn towards him as he kept a grim expression.
"Some high society families hate to have black marks in their ledgers and will do anything to keep them from bringing the family down. Even going so far as to destroy the cause of the black mark." He added, making Regina sigh but nod in resignation.
"But…they were just innocent children? How could they…?" Snow began before a throat was cleared making them look towards the Stranger.
"Considering what you did to the child of Maleficent can you really talk?" She asked making Snow and Charming flinch at that blunder.
"However magic was not lost forever." The Stranger said, making the group look at her in confusion.
"Eight times out of ten a first generation magical being turns out to be related to a Squib showing that if given enough time to heal their families regain the gift of magic again." She said, making the group blink but smile slightly.
"I'm guessing First Generation magical is another classification?" Regina asked, making the Stranger nod.
"Yes, but most magical beings call them Muggleborn as non-magical beings have begun to be called Muggles." She explained making Henry ask another question.
"Why Muggles?" His question caused Zelena to snort.
"Probably because the magical beings of the old days saw non-magicals as uncivilized mud men because of the senseless murder of their kind. Over time it became Muggle."
"She's right." The Stranger said, making her sigh. "Some even go so far as to call Muggleborn children Mudbloods because they are considered of lower birth and blood status." She said with a slight sneer.
"Speaking from experience dearie?" Gold asked her, getting a nod in answer.
"My parents are dentists, which is about as far from a magical profession there is." She explained.
"Magicals don't have dentists?" Henry asked.
"Magic." The Stranger, Regina, Gold, and Zelena offered in answer. Seeing his grandson was still confused David spoke up.
"Magical beings don't get sick as often as the average person. Mostly because they use magic in their health care making it rare to need anything but a highly trained healer in emergencies." He explained making Henry nod in understanding.
"So Pureblood, Squib, Muggle, and Muggleborn? What about those that don't fit into any of those categories?" Hook asked, surprising Regina.
It was a legitimate sounding question.
"Depending on why they don't fit those categories they are either called Creature born or Half-Blood."
"Creatures born for those not fully born human, but also not fully mystical beings. While Half-Blood would be those of mixed blood from the four mentioned groups?" Gold asked, getting a nod from the Stranger.
"Henry's father is considered a Half-Blood because his father was a Pureblood, but his mother was a Muggleborn."
"That's the second time you've referred to another as his father. His father was my son Baelfire…or Neal Cassidy as he was known in this world." Gold said in irritation, making the stranger raise an eyebrow at him.
She simply pointed at the screen again making everyone turn and look only for Gold, Regina, and Zelena to jump at the image.
This time it was a symbol. A triangle with a circle inside it and a line down the middle. Gold muttered a curse in a language no one else spoke.
"Um…?" Hook raised a hand in question.
"It's the mark of the Peverell family." Snow White said in shock.
"Who?" Most of them asked.
"House Peverell was once considered quite powerful magically and politically in the Enchanted Forest." Regina spoke in her lecture voice as Emma liked to call it. "The members were said to rival even the Dark One in pure power alone." She spoke.
"Surely…" Robin started only for Gold to interrupt.
"It's not an exaggeration…can't tell you the number of times that family became a thorn in my side." He said with a slight sneer while grumbling under his breath.
"What happened to them?" David asked. A family of such power could've been a great help in the past.
"A being known as the apprentice banished them from the forest." The Stranger said, making Snow and David flinch slightly.
"Apparently he didn't like that a family that could influence and defy fate would interfere with his plans for the Enchanted Forest and its people. So he used a spell to cast the entire family out…only for them to arrive here and become magical royalty in this world. Especially three brothers Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus."
She said with a smile. "These brothers became famous because they were the first in their family to ever encounter death itself." She said showing the image of three brothers standing before a shadowy figure.
"Legend goes the trio were walking one night and used their magic to create a bridge across a river that had claimed many lives in the past. Cheating death as it were."
"Oh…not something taken lightly." Gold said with a slight hiss.
"Indeed. In its anger death appeared before the brothers and began an act showing congratulations on overcoming the river and offered the brothers a reward for their feat."
"Trap." Regina, Gold, Zelena, Hook, and Henry said together all having been part of such dealings in some shape or form. The Stranger nodded.
"Indeed. Antioch the eldest was quite prideful and loved combat so he asked for a wand that was more powerful than any on earth." The image of a line being drawn appeared above the brothers.
"Cadmus the second born decided he wanted to try and humiliate death further by asking for a means of bringing the dead back to this plain of existence. Death gave him a stone that would do so."
"Ambitious fellow." Gold said, making Regina snort. "More like an over cocky fool." She said, as the image of a circle appeared behind the line drawn.
"Ignotus the youngest brother was also the humblest of the brothers…and the wisest asked for a means to go forth in life and remain hidden even from death itself. He was given Death's own cloak of invisibility."
"Now that was smart. Wishing for a means of continuing to live their life in peace and hide so death couldn't touch them." Regina pointed out making Henry nod at his mothers' logic. As the triangle joined the image once more creating the Peverell family mark.
"Antioch was killed that night after bragging about his weapon after a fight. His throat was slit, and the wand stolen." The Stranger said, making Hook snort.
"Of course. You don't brag about such things and expect to live long after the fact." He said getting nods from the more ruthless members of the group.
"Cadmus committed suicide a month later after his stone of resurrection proved that it only brought back shades of those who have passed into the underworld and not their actual bodies."
"Of course…such magic would be impossible without a high price." Gold said remembering that Baelfire sacrificed himself to resurrect Gold after he had killed himself to kill Pan.
"What of Ignotus?" David asked the stranger who smiled.
"He lived a full life and after marrying his love and raising his three children he passed the cloak to his son before greeting death as an old friend." She said making Hook snort in amusement.
"Damn." He said with a smirk. "What?" Henry asked.
"Man married the love of his life, had children, and all while invisible?" Hook asked, making Ruby blink before she laughed as well.
"Man had some serious game." She joked getting Hook to laugh with her, making Regina roll her eyes at the pair of horndogs.
"Quite…" The Stranger said, also rolling her eyes. "…over time the Peverell faded out due to a greater number of daughters born to sons. Over time they became the Potter family."
She said before the image of a messy haired brown eyed man with glasses appeared, the tired looking red-haired woman with emerald green eyes smiled from her place on the hospital bed. In her arms was a babe wrapped in blue showing the same hair as the man but the eyes of the woman.
"Meet your grandparents' nephew." She said.
"James Potter direct descendant of Ignotus Peverell and holder of the cloak of invisibility. Pureblood lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Potter." She said motioning towards the man.
"Lily Potter nee Evans first Generation witch. Potion mistress and holder of a charm mastery as well." The woman with bright eyes.
"And of course your father. Harry James Potter." She said motioning towards the baby. Henry looked at her in confusion.
"But I'm getting ahead of myself." She said before anyone could ask her a question. "During this time the descendant of Slytherin had become the leader of a terrorist movement known as the Death Eaters." She said the image of men and women wearing robes with silver skull-like masks standing behind a snake-faced man with bright red eyes.
"Oh…talk about ugly. Man could give your crocodile look a run for its money." Hook said looking at Gold who shrugged.
"Voldemort…as he called himself…shared his ancestor's hatred of non-magical beings though for different reasons. In his anger and hatred he gathered those like minded and began a campaign to 'purify' the world so magical beings would be in their rightful place ruling over non-magical beings."
"Purify?" Henry asked.
"He was going to kill people like our guest here who weren't Purebloods and also kill as many innocent people as he could to take over the world." Regina simplified for her son making her go wide eyed.
"Luckily or unluckily a prophecy was made about his downfall."
The screen changed showing a woman with wild hair, gaudy jewelry, and large round spectacles appeared. "Ugh…talk about distasteful." Zelena commented.
Before anyone else could speak the image started to move before the women spoke in a raspy voice her eyes clouded showing she was in a trance. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him. Born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." She said before the image froze.
"As far as prophecies go it's rather open ended." Gold said, making the Stranger nod in agreement.
"Not to mention self-fulfilling." She added making Gold nod.
"What do you mean?" Henry asked Gold raised his cane and wave it at the image on the screen.
"She mentioned that the 'Dark Lord will mark him'…meaning if Voldemort didn't attack the one believed to defeat him then the prophecy is voided and worthless.
Which means either he attacked thinking he could avoid his destiny…or he didn't have all the facts when he did." Gold said, making the Stranger nod.
"One of his servants was there when the prophecy was made…but only heard up to the first mention of the seventh month dying."
"Meaning when he reported to his master he sent said master to his death." Regina said, making Gold and the Stranger nod.
"Voldemort attacked the Potters looking to kill the chosen child before they could fulfill the prophecy. Instead he set the prophecy in motion leaving Harry an orphan with a scar to remember that night." The image of a toddler Harry sitting in his crib crying as his mother lay lifeless before him while a black robe lay nearby with nothing nearby.
"And now we've reached the tragedy portion of the tale." Gold said, making Zelena and Regina nod while Hook took a seat and grabbed a bottle that was on it pulling the stopper out with his teeth.
"Tragedy?" David asked Regina roll her eyes again.
"Your daughter was prophesied to be the savior…what kind of life did she live leading up to that?" She asked the former shepherd.
David blink before looking at the Stranger who nodded. "A man named Albus Dumbledore believed himself the leader of all things light magic and was the one the Prophecy was told to.
Instead of looking at Harry as a young child that had just lost his parents…Harry was seen as Dumbledore's weapon against Voldemort and his forces."
The image changed showing Harry in early stages of life being hit by a large walrus of a man, berated by a horse-faced skinny woman, or shoved to the ground by a blond-haired boy who looked like a pig that had been taught to walk on its hindlegs.
"For ten years Harry suffered at the hands of the Dursley family. Vernon…" The walrus. "…Petunia…" The horse faced woman. "…and Dudley." The pig.
"His relatives by the fact that Petunia is his maternal aunt. For ten years he was their slave." Harry working in the garden, cleaning the house, washing dishes, and cooking food.
"Their whipping boy." Harry cried out as a large belt ran across his back, shoved into walls and to the ground, shoved into a cupboard under the stairs, and smacked by large beefy hands.
"Dumbledore sentenced him to this life to make him pliable and to not see his life as worth anything. While also inspiring great loyalty to the man in question since he would provide Harry with the first reprieve from the abuse."
Snow and the other women covered their mouths in shock at the sights. David, Robin, and Gold all grasped their weapons or cane tightly in anger. While Hook took long pulls from the alcohol bottle. He looked around before holding the bottle up in invitation. David walked up and grabbed the bottle before taking a long drought and handed it off to Robin.
"Why…why would he do this?" Henry asked the Stranger who sighed.
"Your father was a very powerful individual before he could even talk in full sentences.
Politically speaking he was the heir of one of the oldest most influential families, meaning he was also quite wealthy, and would be magically powerful as well.
Dumbledore realized this and knew that once the world realized that your father would be the one to defeat Voldemort he would gain quite the following."
"Weakening his own hold on the sheep and his position as their shepherd." Regina pointed out making the Stranger nod.
"Your father was raised as if he was a pig to slaughter so he would sacrifice himself to kill Voldemort leaving Dumbledore to take the credit."
"Solidifying his place as the man in power and stopping any rise to take the power from him." Gold finished making the Stranger nod.
"However…he didn't expect one thing." She said with a bright smile as the image changed showing a now adult Harry wearing brightly polished armor with a black cloak on his shoulder with… "Ma?!" Henry called out in surprise.
Emma wearing a black and white dress with a veil in her hair, her arm tucked in Harry's elbow. The stranger was shown in the image standing behind the couple clapping while a slightly taller male with broad shoulders also wearing armor smiled brightly.
"Wait…?" Henry said, seeming to understand something.
"Yes. Your mother had found her one in Mordred…and again in his reincarnation Harry Potter." The Stranger said, surprising everyone.
"But how?" Henry asked, making her smile.
"That is why I'm here." She said before motioning to a trunk next to her. "Your parent's story is in this trunk with different mementos and memories to help tell it.
As your Auntie in all but blood I volunteered to come and tell the tale. My name is Hermione Granger, and your father has been my best friend since we were children at Hogwarts."
The now named Hermione motioned to the screen showing a cowering Hermione hiding in fear at the monstrous creature with a wooden club in hand, while a young Harry had jumped onto its back his wand up its nose with the image of a bright flash above its skull showed how Harry had saved her.
"With one act of selfless bravery your father gained not only my friendship, but my loyalty, and sibling- like love." She explained making Henry smile slightly.
"But…when did this happen?" David asked. "She already lived one life as Emma Swan…how?" Hermione smiled at the confused father before looking towards Gold.
"Would you like to field this one?" She asked him, making him sigh.
"The Dark One has the ability to travel to different realms…as well as different times." He said, making the group blink. "Or did you forget the fact that your daughter traveled back to this world's Camelot?" He asked
David blinked before Regina rolled her eyes at him. "How in the world did I lose to you two fools constantly? Honestly." She groused while facepalming.
"Henry…" Hermione lifted the lid of the trunk showing different odds and ends inside.
"I will draw the first item to tell the story of how your parents met, but after it will be up to you to draw an item to help the story along. By the time we are done your parents will be done with their business and return to you."
She said getting a nod from the teen before she raised a white rose from the trunk.
The image on the screen changed as all looked closely. For the tale had begun.
So this is the begining of this work and as it is my first involving the OUAT world you will enjoy it with me. However since its been a while since I watched the show I will make a mistake or two over time so please work with me.
R&R Ja Ne!