"Come out Dark One, I have come for my vengeance at last!" Captain Hook yelled out across the empty reception room.

The wrought iron staircase twisted unnaturally upward, shining in the dim light. Golden flecks glinted beckoning him forwards, the only metal he cared about was the one in his right hand clenched tightly between his fingers.

"I said appear!" Holding forth the dagger the figure emerged from the darkness atop the stair.

Moving slowly, begrudgingly, down the staircase coming to a stop a few meters before the one-handed pirate; face turned into a sickening smirk.

"I bet you thought you had this well-hidden, didn't you? Where no one would ever discover it? Well guess what crocodile," He sneered, "I found it."

He held the dagger in front of him, taunting him, twisting it so that the light bounced off the blade and into Rumpelstiltskin's eyes, making him squint.

"Get on with it Captain, you've finally achieved what you've searched for, for over three hundred years so get on with it." He bit out through clenched teeth, hand shaking at his side, body fighting to disobey.

"Gladly. You took my love from me, and my hand. You've tortured my dreams for decades, and now finally, I will kill you-"

"Of course, Captain, but can you live with what comes next?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, features twisting maliciously, a dangerous glint in his eye.

"I know what comes next. I become you. A Dark One." He swallowed hard, he'd known the price of his revenge and was loath to pay it, but he knew all magic came with a price and however hard it would be; He would pay it.

"It's not just that Captain. You see, everything that lies in that dark and blackened heart of yours will be on show for everyone to see. They'll truly see you for who you are. A monster." Mouth contorting into a smirk, "What I wouldn't give for Milah to see you now. Look at the man you've become, you'll never find love again, Captain."

"I don't need love, I had Milah, I don't want it." He retorted, crying out in rage he drove the dagger through Rumpelstiltskin's heart, twisting the blade for good measure.

"It's not over Captain." He whispered as he fell in a heap on the ground, the blackness oozing from the blade, twisting around his arm, encompassing him entirely.

He screamed and thrashed against the darkness, feeling it snuff out all traces of light. He saw the painful memories of his life that had lead him to this moment, his father abandoning him, the slavery ship, his brother laying in his arms; eyes unseeing, Milah falling to the deck as her heart turned to dust.

Eventually, after what felt like hours of fighting, he felt the darkness release its grip on him, but not its everlasting hold. The room around him blurred into sight, a figure looming over him as he pulled himself up from the ground.

"Hi…" The figure said, Hook leapt back in surprise before growling out, "I killed you. That is why I am dressed like this."

Gesturing down to his thick black robes, shaking his head slowly, raising a hand causing a red burst of magic to swirl around him leaving him in his leather ensemble once more.

"You killed Rumpelstiltskin, yes, but think of me more as a guide, until you embrace your darkness."

"I think you'll find I've embraced my darkness long ago." With a wave of his hand the image of Rumpelstiltskin crumbled to ashes, and dissipated across the hall floor.

Hook turned to face a grand mirror in the entrance hall, the silver frame twisting and turning around the edges to form a shining reflection of his face.

His skin had become dark and scaly, much like Rumpelstiltskin's, his hair had turned dark and hung across his forehead heavily. His eyes however, although heavy bags lay underneath them; dark and hollow, his eyes were still the same bright blue they had always been. He snorted, so that was it then? A reminder of the man he once was, to constantly taunt him for the rest of his days.

"Don't be afraid, come on out…" His face twisting into a dark smile, as the castle staff shuffled nervously from behind the doors, he swung around, long coat brushing around his knees as he extended his arm out dramatically, "This castle is mine now, and everyone who belongs inside it."

"I'm your new master now." Magic swirled around the hall, cloaking everyone in the red haze.

As the years went by the castle fell into despair, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

~BATB~

"Emma? Emma for goodness sake where are you! The ball is about to begin!" Snow was walking the halls down to the stables, calling out for her daughter. "Emma! Must you make me walk so far?"

Snow was in the early stages of her pregnancy and was told to rest as much as possible, but when he daughter hadn't been in her room as the ball started she was too anxious to sit around waiting for her. She stopped short when she saw her daughter, sitting in the mud laughing with the stable boy, Graham.

"You are the future queen of Misthaven, you have responsibilities of attending the ball tonight and you cannot go looking like that." She waved her hand to the bottom of her crystal white gown covered in thick brown sludge.

"Oh mother, you worry too much, I was planning on changing gowns when the ball started." She waved her mother off impatiently, turning back to Graham.

"The ball has already started! Your father is waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs and you're not even in your chambers, come along!" She hooked her arm underneath Emma's and dragged her upwards and pulled her towards the castle.

"I'll see you at the ball Graham!" She called back over her shoulder with a smile, waving wildly as her mother picked up the pace.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, princess!" He returned, the words slipping through his laughter.

It was a few minutes before Emma pulled her arm away from her mother, with a sigh,

"Honestly mother, I was heading to my chambers now, I just lost track of time. You shouldn't be walking this fast, you're pregnant!" She shrugged, moving quickly to keep up with her.

"You're too much like your father, that's the trouble, and I am aware I am carrying a child." Snow insisted while smiling and shaking her head.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Emma raised her head high, she was proud to be like both her parents, the fierce fighters and loyal, passionate leaders.

Snow chuckled, shrugging, "Yes, if being late and trying to charm the pants of everyone is a good thing."

Emma rolled her eyes at her mother, she knew how much they loved each other- they shared many true love kisses but sometimes Emma's heart ached with loneliness, she knew she was never alone in the castle; she had her parents, her friends, but she always felt something was missing.

They reached her bedchamber, Snow pushing the door back and ushering her inside, guiding her towards the bed. There on the bed lay a beautiful dark green gown that matched her eyes perfectly; it had long sleeves and was gilded with gold around the edges.

"Come along now Emma, we don't have much time!" Her mother worried, biting her bottom lip as she undressed her.

Emma span around helplessly as her mother rushed around her like a whirlwind, and before she knew it she was clinging to her bed post as her mother tightened her corset.

"Really mother? Must I- Ooohf!" She inhaled deeply as Snow tugged once more "must I wear this awful contraption?" Her nails biting painfully into the wood.

"You must be properly dressed, now come, come!" Snow waved her arms for Emma to stand on a small stool as she carefully worked the dress over her head and body, fastening the laces at the front of the dress.

"There, your dress looks beautiful, you and Johanna did a wonderful job designing it." Snow looked at her in awe for a second and before Emma had time to even blink she was being rushed into her chair in front of her vanity table, with Snow pulling and teasing her hair.

"Your hair is so beautiful my dear but it is such a nuisance. Maybe you should consider cutting it?" Emma's brows knitted together and she shook her head, causing her mother's hard work to fall out of place.

"No, I like my hair the way it is. I'm a woman now mama, I can decide for myself." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from the mirror.

"Definitely like your father." Snow chuckled, picking up the strands of hair and rearranging it once more.

Minutes later, after the torture of make-up and combing her hair, Emma stood in front of the mirror to assess herself. Her eyes growing wide as she took in the young woman facing her in the reflection.

Her hair was beautifully combed and rolling in waves down her back whilst some of it was pulled up in to a delicate up do. The make-up was light and natural with only the slightest hint of rose on her cheeks and lips, with the faintest trace of black under her eyes.

And the dress, oh the dress. It hugged her body perfectly from the waist upwards, like a second skin, but flowed out around her hips down to her feet that twisted as she turned back and forth to see herself.

"You've done a wonderful job mother; I barely recognise myself." Emma whispered reverently, whilst a blush creeped its way up her cheeks.

"Oh I did nothing; you were already beautiful darling. Now there was one last thing I wanted to give you before the ball." Snow turned to the box placed on the dresser; It was gold and had delicate, intricate carvings all around it.

She lifted the lid with caution, and picked up the tiara inside. It shone with diamonds and glittered with every movement, she held it out as Emma lowered her head slightly to accept it.

"Mama…" she choked out as Snow tucked the tiara in place, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"Don't ruin my good work, come now, your father is expecting us and I will not turn into him." She smiled, taking her daughter's arm and walking from her room.

~BATB~

"Presenting her royal majesty, Queen Snow of Misthaven, and her daughter, her royal highness, Princess Emma."

Emma clung tightly to her mother's arm as they descended the stairs, feeling the eyes of everyone in the ballroom staring at her, she was afraid she would slip and fall for everyone to see.

Finally, her foot touched the bottom of the stairs and she breathed a deep sigh of relief, her father was waiting for them and leant forward to place a kiss to Emma's forehead, before embracing her mother.

"You two are late." He told them with a smug smile, eyes flicking between the two women.

Snow huffed, "Blame your daughter. She was out in the stables getting covered in filth." Shaking his head her father threw her a quick wink as he guided her mother to the dance floor.

She sighed, it was only a matter of time before she was asked to dance, she looked around helplessly for her friends when she felt a presence behind her.

"Your highness," the figure fell into a graceful bow, "Might I have the pleasure of a dance?" With one last glance around the ballroom she nodded and took the hand she was offered.

It seemed endless, being twirled this way and that, spun in circles and small talk involving the kingdom and politics with princes and dukes, all vying for her attentions. She spotted Elsa and Tink over by the windows, sending her smiles, hands wrapped around long drinking glasses.

She carefully extricated herself from the arms of the fifth prince of Northwood castle, offering a gracious curtsey and walking to her friends.

"Go on, what was wrong with this one?" Elsa sighed, waving her hand towards the blond hair prince.

"Like you're one to talk. And how is your love life going Elsa?" Emma smirked,

"Better than yours it would seem. I have plenty of suitors, just none that Anna need know about." Elsa nodded towards her sister talking avidly to her fiancé.

"Elsa!" Tink cried, hearing the implication in her voice, "Who is he? Why didn't you tell us!" nudging her friend with her elbow.

"Because I was trying him on for size, turns out he's terrible at keeping beds warm…" She giggled, Emma and Tink's eyes widening,

"You have to tell us everything!" Emma urged, reaching over to grab a drink off the serving tray

"I don't think you have time for that my dear," Elsa nodded behind her, "Looks like prince 'me, me, me' is heading this way for a dance."

Emma groaned, closing her eyes, scrunching them up tightly and praying he would just walk straight past her,

"Your highness."

Or not.

She took a deep breath and forced a polite smile on to her lips, turning towards the prince, he bowed low, holding out his hand as he stood straight again.

"I am Prince Baelfire, might I have this dance?" His lips seemed permanently in a smug smile, she extended her hand, allowing him to place a sloppy kiss on it.

Grimacing at the moisture covering her hand, she tried to subtly wipe it off on the back of her dress, glancing at Elsa and Tink who were trying to hide their sniggers in their glasses.

"Of course, lead the way." He yanked her forwards, harder than she had been prepared for, looking over her shoulder at her friends in distress, pleading with them to help.

He crushed her forwards against him, arm coming around to circle her waist and trap her there. Her head placed awkwardly close to his, his breath clinging to the skin of her throat. She cleared her throat and tried to lean back as far as he would allow.

"So Prince Baelfire, what brings you to my kingdom?" She tried to force herself to act polite but the constant smugness plastered on his face made her stomach lurch uncomfortably.

"Why to find a wife of course. You are the picture of beauty my Princess, we would make a fine match." Emma tried to hide her grimace as he continued blind to her reactions. "Imagine the children we would make with my brutish good looks and your simple elegant beauty."

Simple?!

She tried to tune him out she really did; but the final straw came and she could hide her distaste no longer.

"Think of this, my latest kill roasting on the fire, our children playing on the floor with the dogs- we'll have five or six of them."

"Dogs?" Emma asked hopefully, however futile.

"No, Emma, children! Of course, my little wife will be rubbing my feet after a long day of ruling both our kingdoms." She didn't think his self-satisfied smile could get any worse and when his hand drifted too low she barely registered her hand pulling back before launching it forwards to hit him in the nose with a sickening, yet satisfying, crack.

The ballroom gasped and turned to the drama, Emma looked around at all the eyes on her searching for her mother and father.

"Come along Princess, I think you've had too much wine." She felt the comforting hand on her shoulder steering her to the shadows of the ballroom and out of one of the doors and into the kitchens.

"Thanks Graham, that boarish, brainless brute has no idea how to talk to women. He wanted me to play the meek and mild obeying wife. Me!" She told him in disbelief as he handed her a damp cloth to press against her knuckles.

"I don't think anyone would make that mistake princess…" Graham chuckled.

"Emma!"

"Emma!"

She groaned as her Elsa, Anna, Tink and her parents filtered into the kitchens, she buried her face in her folded arms resting on the table.

"I'm sorry!" She lifted her head up before glaring at her parents, "Actually I'm not sorry, I would rather live my life alone than be with such a selfish, self-obsessed…. Brute!"

She was shocked to see her father's shoulders moving up and down with his contained laughter.

"David." Snow chastised him, slapping him lightly on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Snow, but I can't help but be proud of our little girl. At least I know she can defend herself while I'm away- she broke his nose Snow!"

Her eyes narrowed at her husband,

"Yes. But not in a ballroom filled with visitors! Really Emma…"

"I thought she did the right thing, that man has no sense at all, keeps all his brains in his-"

"Tinkerbell!" Snow admonished, eyes wide at the insinuated comment.

Emma's head fell back, groaning again and throwing the cloth on the table with a small smile towards Graham.

"If someone is making inappropriate advances I will stop them, I am perfectly capable of defending myself while father is away."

"Good because I leave in the morning." David told her, looking awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot,

"Tomorrow?" She glanced nervously between her parents, "Well if you must, but take care, and take guards-"

"Emma, stop worrying I'll be fine, it's a perfectly normal patrol of the forest, the Dark One has laid dormant for many years, I suspect there will be nothing to worry about." Reaching out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, using it to pull her forward into his embrace and cupping the back of her head with his hand.

"Can we please get back out there, I want to get back to dancing!" Anna cried enthusiastically, while Tink merely rolled her eyes and smirked,

"I want to see the damage Emma did."

Emma scoffed as Elsa pulled her close and walked back towards the ballroom, "I really didn't break his nose, did I?"

~BATB~

Emma was walking her horse through the courtyard preparing for an afternoon ride when the guards came back, shouting and crying for help. She called for more guards and sent for Doc, the castle physician, she helped them off the horses and gently laid them on the grounds.

"My father, where is he? Where are the others?" She asked impatiently, eyes searching every horse, scanning every path in or out of the castle.

"The wolves, they attacked us, he's still out there, I'm so sorry my Princess." Sir Lancelot answered, the pain lacing through his voice.

Snow came running down the steps, "David?! Where's David? Lancelot!" She hurried over to her daughter and the night.

"He's out there somewhere mama, I need to find him." Emma drew up tall and reached for her horse,

"No Emma. We will send guards, there is no use you getting lost out there too." Snow pleaded, "Emma, you can't!"

She swung up into the saddle, "Lancelot, where did you lose my father?" Fixing him with a glare he'd dare not refuse.

"In the eastern fields, just outside the abandoned castle owned by the Dark One." He swallowed hard looking towards Snow, "I'm sorry your majesty, I couldn't defend him."

Before Snow could even open her mouth, Emma sharp reply cut her off,

"That doesn't matter now Lancelot, I'll bring him back- take care of my mother." With a firm kick to her horse she raced through the gates and out to the eastern fields.

She would bring him back no matter what.

~BATB~