A/N: All will be revealed in time. Thanks for the awesome reviews!
Chapter Five:
13 years ago
Fairy Tale Land
Enchanted Forest
"She's gone!" David slammed into the grand hall, ignoring the strange looks he received as he frantically ran up to the Dark Queen. "Where is she?"
"What are you talking about? Regina is waiting for your daughter in the outer…"
"No, Emma! What did you do to her you vile witch?" the Prince Consort yelled. Murmurs began flowing through the banquet hall, as servants stopped delivering appetizers and wine. "Something took her." Gasps were heard passing from table to table.
"What do you mean gone David?" Snow White stood up from her place at one of the prominent tables on the risers.
"She and I were talking in her nursery," he could feel the tears beginning to pool in his eyes. "Some…some light, I don't know. It just happened. We were going to head back to the banquet when it just…it absorbed her." The prince couldn't hold back anymore, and a sob rang from the man's throat. "I knew it! I knew we couldn't trust you!"
"Is Regina still safe?" The Dark Queen didn't respond to the accusation but ran out toward the outer doors. Using her magic, she threw open the large elaborate doors to reveal a surprised, but sheepish looking Regina, standing there, flanked by guards on both sides.
"Mother, she…she hasn't' come down yet," she whispered loudly. "We're not ready!" The young woman grinned and waved at the guests, but her hand came down slowly as Queen Cora ran up to her, stroking her hands down the princess' face.
"My baby!" Regina pulled back, suddenly taking in the awkward stares from the guests and the distraught features draped over Prince David's face.
"Mother what is going on? Where is Emma?" Guests started rising from their seats, anticipating the conflict that was destined to erupt. "Mother?"
"Nobody move!" Queen Snow said, coming down off of the risers. "Every last person in this room is a suspect, particularly those allied with Valentia."
"How dare you!" Cora turned around, facing the White Queen. "This type of underhanded nonsense is far more likely to be from the Enchanted Forest."
"Someone please tell me; where is Emma?" Regina yelled. The Dark Princess looked frantically around the large ballroom, eyes scanning every table, but the blond curls were nowhere to be found. Guards came running into the room from the back, shaking their heads.
"She is not anywhere in the castle Your Highness," the captain said addressing David. "We have searched both wings and the towers."
"Send out a search party. I want every patch of dirt in the Enchanted Forest covered," David said.
"Valentia will aid in this effort," King Henry said, moving from his seat to stand next to Regina. "Every resource we have will be made available. We are united as one. "
"We are not united," Snow White said. "The Enchanted Forest will handle this."
"Our daughters are married," Cora stepped up the White Queen, "Valentia and the Enchanted Forest are one kingdom. Or have you forgotten so soon."
"The marriage was never consummated Your Highness."
"This is what you wanted isn't it." The Dark Queen growled. "You never supported the union of our kingdoms. I wouldn't be surprised if you were responsible for Emma's disappearance."
"Hey!" David broke in. "Snow would never endanger Emma."
"No? She wouldn't? She would do anything to protect her precious kingdom, even get rid of her daughter. Do you deny it?" Snow White narrowed her eyes to the Dark Queen.
"I won't dignify that with an answer."
"Because you know it is the truth!" Cora yelled, backing up toward her daughter. "They did this! They took the princess!"
Regina had tuned out the argument in front of her. The brunette found herself sliding against the stone walls, breathing erratic. Emma was gone. She was missing. They hadn't been married an hour and their union had already harmed Emma. She had to find her. She had to bring her back to safety.
"The ring!" Regina exclaimed. She pulled the small silver ring from her right hand. She concentrated, pushing her magic onto the emerald stone.
"Darling what are you doing?"
"Emma said this ring was enchanted. No matter what, it will always direct a person to their true love." Regina stared at the precious stone, willing it to work. The room went silent, as her eyes lit up, magic rose from her finger, wrapping itself around the ring. "Work!"
As each wave of visible energy hit the stone, it remained dull. Regina then lifted her hand, waving it back a forth above the ring.
"The ring won't work if it's not true love," Snow said. "I think you know that."
"Emma is my True Love." The girl replied, still sending swirls of magic to the jewelry. "Why isn't it glowing?" she whispered.
"It wouldn't work….it wouldn't...if…" David started, eyes glassy.
"...if the person's were dead." Cora finished for the Prince Consort. Conversation erupted again.
"No!" Regina said, frantically pouring her dark magic into the ring. The swirls of energy emanating from her hand were no longer lavender, but a deep violet. "She is not…she is NOT!"
The Dark Princess slid to the floor, hand dropping from its action. No matter how much energy she pushed into the stone, it remained lifeless.
"They did this my darling," Cora whispered as she kneeled next to the sobbing princess. "They have never wanted to join with us."
"Why…why mother," Regina sobbed. "How could they?" Regina looked up briefly. In contrast to the rivers of tears running down Prince David's face, Snow White merely frowned. She directed guards as they came into the ballroom. The Dark Princess shook her head, tears splashing onto her cheeks.
Valentia's allies knew better. They knew King Henry and Queen Cora fully supported the marriage. They would have been foolish to do anything to thwart this wedding. Anyone who dared go against Valentia was met with swift execution. The Dark King and Queen ruled by fear; with an iron fist. There was no room for deceit. No time for deception. If they wanted someone dead, they did it out in the open. If anyone harmed them, they were beheaded in broad daylight.
The Enchanted Forest was different. There was no true control, despite the power Snow White held. Everyone was given an opinion. Allies had their say in every decision that was made. If one was accused of betrayal they were give a trial and options instead of being dealt with immediately. It wouldn't take much for an ally to believe that uniting with Valentia was worse than the death of an heir.
"You did this." Regina's voice was low as she looked down, eyes staring at the ring which refused to glow. "You did this! You killed my wife!" she suddenly screamed. Eyes violet in her fury, the Dark Princess raised a hand, pointing towards the White Queen.
"I will not stand by and let you blame the light for an act of darkness."
"Your hatred for this union led to her death. It was your side! Your allies!" The dark princess curled down, her head on her knees, fists clenched, grasping at the fabric of her wedding gown.
"You have no proof an ally of the Enchanted Forest did this."
"Kill her!" Regina screamed raising her head. "I want her dead!" A large number of Valentia's guests stood, ready to pull their swords as a host of white guards ran to stand in front of queen. Glasses could be heard breaking around the room, as violet swirls of magic erupted from the dark princess. Mirrors broke into pieces, coinciding with the wail of pain the princess let out as she rocked herself back and forth on the stone floor.
Swords were pulled out as guests tried to protect themselves and their families. It was not long before the room was dividing in two. Allies of the Enchanted Forest stood in front of the Queen and Prince Consort, blades raised. Even the fairies in attendance stood at the ready, fairy dust prepared to be thrown on the two sorceresses.
All Emma had wanted was a peaceful life for them both. She had believed it was possible. She held this vision of a utopia. But it wasn't going to happen. There was no way they could join sides.
Regina could feel the heat of anger boiling up within her. Her mind was filled with a chorus of voices telling her that they needed to pay. She could feel the rush of blood lust, filling her veins. As if the room surrounding her wasn't filled with threats, but silent.
"Let's go dear," King Henry said, motioning for a guard to get the crying princess. Regina could feel arms around her, pulling her off of her knees. She couldn't speak. Couldn't tell the guard, who's chain mail was pushing into her back, to set her back down. To leave her there in her misery and anger. Instead the Dark Princess broke from his grasp, taking two steps forward. She stopped just before the swords that were raised in protection for the White Queen and King.
"I will destroy you," she directly to the Queen. "I will destroy your happiness if it is the last thing I do." All in the room gasped as the Dark Princess threw her arms up, disappearing into a plume of violet smoke.
[SQ}
Earth
Upstate New York
Lakeview Correctional Facility
Emma Swan was two months into a one year sentence for petit larceny. She knew she couldn't trust him. Why she was taken in by a charming smile and sweet words was beyond her. She'd learned long ago that the only person she could trust was herself. After being promised a home, but sent back into the system so many times, a child got the point. No one was going to look after her but herself.
Now here she was, serving a sentence for a crime she didn't even commit. She hadn't stolen the watches, she just picked them up out of a locker. And where was Neal? Somewhere south of the border probably.
"Swan, yardtime!" the female guard hit the bars. She hadn't felt like walking around outside. She'd been unable to keep anything down lately and her energy was shot.
"Do I have to? I'm not feeling well."
"You've used that same excuse four times time. Get your ass up and into the yard before I send you to solitary!" Emma balked at the guards reply. There was no sympathy in this place. You'd think she was in for murder, not a few Rolexes.
She hauled herself off the small cot, but the moment she stood, a wave of nausea hit her. She couldn't hold it down.
The blonde fell over, releasing the contents of her stomach onto the concrete ground.
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