Prologue: The Dark Curse

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Once Upon a Time or any other work that may be included or referenced in this fanfiction story. All rights associated with those properties belong to their respective owners. This disclaimer applies for all additional chapters that may be added to this story.

Count Dracula was standing on the balcony of his bedroom, looking out over the expanse of land that was Wallachia. Contrary to the expectations of the humans outside of Wallachia, he was not simply a bloodthirsty monster. He wouldn't deny that he was a bloodthirsty monster, but he took offense at the stories that portrayed him as only being one.

Humanity was so quick to forget the true monsters. They forgot Jadis, the Giantess Witch of the North, she of eternal winter who turned people to stone for her own sick amusement and would have reduced humanity to farm animals for her army. They forgot the Horned King of Prydain who would have spread unlife throughout the realm right down to the last child with that infernal cauldron. They forgot about Judge Claude Frollo who in addition to persecuting 'heretics' and executing them by the thousands, sold their bodies to the Horned King. They forgot about Agamemnon who would willingly sacrifice his daughter for victory in a war no one wanted.

Dracula sighed. Each time he had been the one who intervened. Each time he wondered why he even bothered. Humanity's sense of gratitude truly belonged to the realms of short-term memory. Hell, even his vampirism had been contracted as the result of an ill-thought-out deal on his part to protect his subjects. He had always protected his people. Even from themselves. There was a reason, after all, why neither the Dark One nor those insipid fairies dared to encroach upon his lands.

Yet both were doing so again. The Dark One by creating the Dark Curse and manipulating events to see it cast. The fairies because they couldn't be bothered to take 1 life to save thousands. Seriously, kill the bitch before she could cast the spell. A fledgling could figure that out. So now he was watching the dark clouds of the appropriately named Dark Curse approaching his lands. He took out his knife and cut himself, letting out a small trickle of blood. He used his vast knowledge of sangromancy to conduct a ritual.

"I, Count Vlad Caliban Dracula, protector of the kingdom and people of Wallachia, do hereby call upon the sentient aspect of the Dark Curse to make a deal."

The black clouds halted at the borders of Wallachia then a tendril of them shot out and hit his balcony. Within a minute the clouds formed into the shape of a woman, whom Dracula recognized as the 'Evil' Queen, Regina.

"Why do you wish to speak with me," asked the woman imperiously before she realized what she had said, "How can you make me speak? This isn't my purpose."

"All magic is about intent. I wanted to speak with you, and you wish to fulfill your purpose. At an instinctual level you knew that if you didn't or couldn't speak with me, you would fail in your purpose. So, you are here.

"As for what I want, I wish to protect my people from your curse. I do not know where or what you are doing with those you consumed. However, I would be remiss in my duties if I let you consume them. I will allow myself to be overtaken by your curse and allow you to finish your purpose, if you spare my kingdom."

Both were distracted by a loud magical shockwave to the south. They turned and looked.

"Ah…so the tales of Cora Mills' death were greatly exaggerated," remarked Dracula, "Well even without me standing vigil, she will find no foothold in my kingdom."

"You say, you will let me fulfill my purpose," began the woman, "What if I want more than that? From what I can see of your life, I know that all curses can be broken. I would be cursed with Oblivion after spending all my 'life' as a slave in a petty power struggle. I want to live."

"Then do so. I'm quite certain that neither your caster nor your creator fully bound you to their wishes. Sure, they gave you some parameters that you must abide by but even within those, you have freedom to do as you wish."

The woman paused and looked contemplative.

"Land of No-Magic is vague," she finally said, "It never specified how much of the 'land' had to have no magic. They also don't know about you. I could make it so you appear in Storybrooke after everyone else. You can't have a storybook happy ending, but your life doesn't have to be a boring routine for all of it."

"I've always liked books if that role hasn't been filled in …I'm assuming Storybrooke is a town?"

"Yes. I'll deposit you outside of it though. I want you to bring magic into the town and strengthen me."

"I imagine that I'll lose most of my powers which I can live with. Just leave me enough that I don't burn to a crisp in the sunlight and don't exhibit any of the tell-tale vampire weaknesses like the coffin thing or inability to cross running water."

She nodded, "It would be bad for you to die before you make it to Storybrooke. I'll just have things paused there so you can be there at the 'beginning.' They just won't realize you've been sent ahead."

"Then do we have a deal?"

"Yes."

Author Notes: Fair warning, my muse likes to jump prompts. If a story hasn't been marked as complete, but also hasn't gotten any updates in a bit, my muse is likely being uncooperative and I have writer's block on that story. There will be an Author's note added to the last chapter (and an update to the summary) if a story is being discontinued.

This story will likely receive less frequent updates than The Molecular Polycule as the plot for this isn't quite as developed as that story's. I'm hoping that posting it will help prevent some of the writer's block from popping up.