So this is my new OUAT story. I hope you enjoy the first chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Tell me if I should continue this.
-np

It was a cold and chilly morning in early March. The first rays of sunlight were slowly creeping up on the Dark Castle, where one inhabitant was already awake despite the early hour.
Rumpelstiltskin was in the castle's kitchen preparing a sumptuous breakfast: Scrambled eggs, sweet vanilla porridge, a huge assortment of cut up fruit and of course blueberry pancakes. They were her favorite after all and today was a special day. A very special day indeed.
On most days, Mrs. Potts and Lumière - the only servants that had dared to stay and work for the Dark One when he made a deal for the castle 15 years ago - would prepare the breakfast table but today he felt the need, the wish, to do it himself. Just like back in the days when his precious daughter was just a small child, he had neither a castle, nor servants and they shared a small hut in the woods.
"Papa," the sweetest voice on earth sounded in the halls, as his girl made her way to the kitchen. "Where..?" The young woman stepped into the room and forgot to finish her sentence. She looked around, a big smile appearing on her beautiful face. "You made breakfast," she stated, warmth lacing her voice.
"Course I did, dearie," her father chuckled, walking up to her and hugging her to his chest. "I always do on your birthdays. And today is a very special one at that."
The Dark One smiled the loving smile only his child got to see. He'd been enamoured with her from the first time he'd laid his eyes on the small newborn's face. She'd looked so much like her mother even back then but without the malice and calculation in her dark eyes. He did not care about Cora anymore, he truly didn't, but he would be forever grateful for the child she'd born him. When his little girl had grown older, he had wondered with every passing day, how two villains like them could've created something so pure; a mother who took out her own heart and poisoned it so nobody could force it back inside of her without her immediate death and a father who was the darkest sorcerer in the land, with a heart almost as black as her hair. Killing was her mother's hobby and often her father's business, but there she was, breaking out in guilty tears when she'd been six and had accidently stepped on a snail. And now, today, his little girl was 18. A grown woman.
"Don't remind me of it," Regina scolded her father in jest. "I'm getting old."
He laughed and let go of his daughter. "Happy Birthday sweetie," he kissed her rosy cheek. "Let's eat breakfast. I'll show you your gift after we've eaten."
The two sat down and enjoyed their breakfast. It was too bad they couldn't spend time together like this so often. Rumpelstiltskin was often away, making deals and collecting magical items. Regina would stay at the castle; it was too dangerous for her to venture out and explore the surrounding land - too many people held a grudge against her father and wanted to cause him pain. And what better way to achieve this than hurting the thing he loved most.
Regina sighed and put her fork down. A frown appeared on her face.
"What's the matter dearie?" Rumple wanted to know when he noticed his daughter's sullen face.
"Nothing Papa," she responded, not looking him in the eye.
"I can tell you're lying sweetie. Tell me. What is it that troubles you."
"I just feel so lonely sometimes..." his daughter finally admitted, looking up at him with teary eyes. "I wish I could leave the castle grounds."
He sadly nodded at her words. There was nothing he couldn't give her but freedom and friends.
Then he had an idea.
"Maybe," he started, waiting until her eyes curiously met his. "Maybe I can take you to town with me later? We're running out of food and Mrs. Potts could use the day off to visit her sister in Sherwood."
"Oh I'd love to!" the eighteen-year-old practically squealed. "Can we go now?"
Her excitement at the prospect of going to town made him chuckle.
"In a little while," he smiled at her. "First let's open your presents."
Rumpelstiltskin snapped his fingers and a small pile of wrapped boxes appeared on the newly free kitchen table.
"Open them," he said, excitedly rubbing his glittering hands together.
Regina started with one of the smaller boxes. She swiftly unwrapped it and found two books in there.
One was a big leather bound tome that looked rather old with the title 'A history of Oz'. She already had the same edition about the Enchanted Forest and Arendelle. She couldn't visit the far off places but she could at least learn about them. The second book had a dark purple binding and said 'Healing and other light magic for the Advanced'.
"Thank you, Papa," she beamed at her father. Books were one of her greatest pleasures and she always loved to learn something new.
"Go along," he grinned. "Open the other two."
Regina did and revealed a new dress in one and riding breeches and jacket in the other. She was confused about the last gift tough.
"Papa," she began but was interrupted when the world started to spin around her and seconds later she and her father were in the castle's garden.
"There is one last gift," he grinned and walked to the castle stables, Regina following after him. "I know how sad you were when Rocinante passed away last year. And I know you said you never wanted another horse… but I see how you miss riding every day… so..." He gestured to one of the stalls, where a beautiful grey stallion was waiting for her.
"Oh Papa!" Regina exclaimed, hurrying up to the stall and gently stroking the horses head. "He's beautiful. What is his name?"
"His name is Shadow," he stated. "I bought him from a farmer in Arendelle. He's four years old."
He really had bought the horse, for a proud price as well. He knew how much his daughter hated it when he just took what he wanted or tricked people for his own good. So he tried to at least get her presents the old fashioned, honest way.
"Thank you Papa," she walked up to him and quickly hugged him. "Can I saddle him and take him for a ride on the castle grounds?"
"You can dearie. But I thought you wanted to accompany me to town?" he was glad she was happy about her gift. He hadn't been sure; the loss of Rocinante last year had really been hard on her. The steed had been 15 and had been Regina's loyal companion for most of her life. And living so secluded with only her father and two servants as company, she'd felt the loss even heavier. That horse had been her only friend.
"Oh," Regina turned around to her new horse. "I guess I'll see you later, Shadow."
The stallion nuzzled her hand, making Regina smile. She fed him a carrot and left the stables with her father.

"You know the rules Regina, don't..."
"Don't go out of your sight, don't tell anyone we're related and scream loudly if I am in any danger," Regina finished with a small smile. "I know Papa. It's not the first time you take me to town."
"Alright," he couldn't help but be concerned. She was the only thing he treasured more than his power, his own life. "Let's go then."
"Can I ?" Regina looked at her hands. She felt like her magic was stronger today than ever before. She'd have to ask her Papa about it later.
"You may," Rumpelstiltskin nodded at his eager child. He trusted her and her powers enough to know she'd get them there in one piece.
Her nose wrinkled in concentration and seconds later purple smoke emanated from her fingertips and engulfed them. When the smoke cleared, they found themselves on the outskirts of town; just far away enough to not be seen by the townspeople.
"You go ahead, dearie. I'll make my great entrance once you're at the market," he motioned for Regina to walk off. The young woman kissed his cheek and soon entered town.

She was just browsing through one of the stalls, when shocked gasps and outcrys went through the crowd. She turned her head to see her father appear in a cloud of purple smoke in the center of the square.
He winked in her direction and went to a stall selling vegetables and fruit, leaving clearances wherever he went.
Regina turned back to the stall. It's owner was a middle-aged bulky man with dark hair and a big nose. She looked at the trinkets, fabrics and jewelry, her eyes landing on a beautiful brown leather bracelet adorned with feathers.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" a man had walked up to the stall and stood next to her. "It doesn't hold a torch to your beauty tough mylady."
Regina pulled her hand back. She'd just been at the process of running her hands over the soft feathers, when the stranger had addressed her. She looked at him warily. He was rather handsome, dressed in fine leathers and fabrics but his eyes... his eyes made Regina shudder.
"Oh excuse my manners, mylady. The name's Nottingham. William Nottingham. I am the sheriff of this town." He puffed out his chest, waiting for the girl to answer.
"Nice to meet you," Regina politely said, omitting her name on purpose. The man's closeness made her alarm clocks shrill and she had the urge to flee. She nervously looked around for her father but couldn't make him out in the crowded market place. And screaming would only cut her time at the town short… the guy hadn't done anything yet.
So she turned around and walked away to look at what the other stalls sold. She didn't come far.
A hand wrapped firmly around her upper arm, holding her back.
She looked behind her to see it was the sheriff again.
"Let go of me," she said with confidence she didn't feel. His grip on her arm was starting to hurt.
Instead the man stepped closer and pressed himself into her back. She could feel something hard against her butt and tried to squirm out of his hold.
His hot breath was on her neck; his second hand found its way to her belly, sliding further down as the seconds ticked by.
"You know you want it, darling," his overly sweet voice whispered in her ear, making her stomach turn.
She was just about to scream for her father, when the hand left her arm and firmly pressed itself over her mouth.
"Tsk, tsk. Now you'll be a good girl and give me what I want," she heard him say. Then he pushed them forward until they left the crowded place and reached a dark and empty alleyway. Panic shone in her eyes when he pushed her against a stone wall, hard, and pressed himself against her even tighter. His left hand wandered down her belly and started to crawl up under her dress, his fingers on her skin making her gulp down the bile that had risen in her throat.
"Please," she whimpered incoherently under his sweaty hand.
'I should've screamed when he first approached me,' she scolded herself, tears running down her cheeks and onto his hand.
Just when she closed her eyes and his fingers almost reached her knickers, she felt him being roughly pushed away from her.
"How dare you lay a hand on her you filthy bastard," the female voice of her protector snarled. "Hasn't your mama told you how to treat a woman?"
Regina sunk to the floor; her hands trembling with fear and shock.
She heard a pained gasp and when she finally dared to turn around and face her savior, her eyes only found the sheriff who laid on the ground in a pool of his own blood, eyes wide open, dead. There was no one else to be seen in the alleyway.
"Regina!" Her father suddenly appeared beside her, bending to his knees.
He'd looked for her everywhere until a man finally stammered out that he'd seen her 'go off' with the Sheriff Nottingham.
"Are you alright?" he asked, noticing her condition and the dead man lying just a few feet away from her. "Did he...?" He couldn't bring himself to end his questions, didn't want to know of his failure to protect her.
"No," Regina shook her head. "He wanted to but then..." The girl trailed off, too shocked to talk about what had happened.
"We can talk when we're home," Rumpelstiltskin softly said and wrapped his arms around his daughter, glad she was relatively unharmed.

Then he teleported them back to the castle.
He settled her in a comfy armchair opposite the fireplace and brought her a cup of tea before conjuring a chair and taking a seat in front of her.
"Regina," he began but she stopped him with a move of her hand.
"Don't, papa. This is not your fault. I don't want you to apologize," she managed a small smile at her father. "A woman, a woman saved me," she finally stuttered out, looking at her father. "I didn't even see her. She was gone before I could see her face or thank her."
"A woman, you say," the Dark One mused but couldn't think of any woman powerful enough and especially willing to save a young girl from being raped. He would definitely ask around in town tough. He wanted to meet the mysterious woman who had saved his only child when he couldn't.
"Can I go to bed now?" Regina tiredly asked. "I just wanna go to sleep." A lone tear ran down her cheek and it broke her father's heart.
"Go ahead, sweetie. Do you want me to tuck you in? Or stay with you?"
"No, I'll be okay," she gratefully said. "But could you go and tell Shadow that I'll see him in the morning first thing?"
"I will," he promised. Regina nodded and left the room, headed for her bedchambers.

It was with great hesitation that Rumpelstiltskin left the castle the next morning, just a little after dawn. He had business in Oz and would only be back by evening. He didn't feel well leaving Regina alone the whole day, especially taking in concern what had happened the day before. But he couldn't wait another day. This was of great importance. So he wrote a note, put it on Regina's nightstand and told Lumière to keep an eye on her when she went outside.

"Regina,
I have urgent business in Oz and could not let this wait another day. If you need me, just speak my name and I shall be back as soon as I can. I'll see you this evening.
Papa."
Regina put the note down and sleepily rubbed her eyes. She was used to her father's absence but had really hoped he wouldn't have to leave her today. She was still shaken by yesterday's events; the castle was probably the safest place in the land but still… Eventually she shrugged her shoulders and got out of bed. "I can do this," she whispered to the empty room. "It's just a day like every other."

Several hours later, she was just leaving the stables after a long morning ride on the grounds, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and she was teleported away.
When the smoke cleared, she found herself in a dark round room with stonewalls, a small bed to her left and a heavy bracelet around her right wrist.
"Where…" she started to ask but was interrupted by a massive door flying shut behind her.
She turned around and walked to the barred window in the door. A blond woman was on the other side, her blue eyes looking her over.
"Let me out!" she hammered on the door but the woman only kept staring at her.
She raised her hand to produce a fireball only to notice she didn't feel her magic. Confused she looked at her captor.
"The bracelet on your wrist is magical. It inhibits your use of magic," she explained. The girl started frantically fumbling around on her wrist, trying to get it off. "Oh don't bother trying to take it off. Only I can."
"What do you want of me?" the girl took a step back from the door, her eyes full of fear and panic, her small body shuddering. It constricted Maleficent's heart to see her like this. Just yesterday she had seen the exact same look in a peasant girl's eyes. She gulped.
"Girl," she said as gently as she could manage. She was torn between letting her go and keeping her locked up until she had what she wanted. The young woman started to sob into her hands and Maleficent was already reaching out to open the door when she remembered what was at stake.
"I am sorry," she just said instead. "No harm will come to you as long as your father gives me what I want."
Then she forced herself to turn away and leave the tower, the pained sobs following her on her way down.
"Cruella, Ursula," she said to her friends who were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "Go watch her. I have a message to send."
The two nodded and started climbing the stairs when they heard Maleficent's voice shout after them, "Just watch her. No meddling!"