Dedication

I only thought it fitting to thank the following while writing the final version of the eight year work of fanfiction. The original version of Something Precious was started in 2012. Since then, I have found many to support me and to help me develop the story into what it is now. Many have encouraged me along the way and it is only right that I thank them.

To the Ohana group, Mando, Jessie, Marni, Missy, and Mandy, for their love and encouragement during my darkest times, for helping me to develop Elizabeth's character.

For Missy and Adam, who adopted me and her as their own when they didn't even have to know me let alone symbolically adopt me from afar.

For Kelsie, for always looking up to me and believing in me. I am and always will be your fairy godmother.

For Robert Carlyle and Tom Hiddleston, for their portrayals of Rumplestiltskin and Loki.

For all who are affected by cancer, disability, neurological disorders, mental illness and victims of abuse. We are all Avengers. We are all powerful. We are all warriors in a never ending war.

For all those in the Asexual community and those who are in the ABDL community: we deserve our own heroine.

For all my writing partners who have played Rumplestiltskin and Loki in the roleplay world.

For Gretchen Scott-Moore, my beloved riding instructor who has always believed in me, on whom the horse goddess Epona is based. Thank you for giving me the gift of horsemanship and for always being there for me.

For Stan Lee, excelsior.

For the creators of Once Upon a Time, thank you for giving me the one thing that's been keeping me alive all of these years: the hope of a happy ending.

_

ACT I
ORIGINS

CHAPTER 1
A FAINT HOPE

Helheim. It had many names, Limbo, the Underworld, the afterlife. They all meant the same thing. Helheim was where the souls of the dead resided. In this realm of the dead were three lands. One was where the souls who had unfinished business resided. It looked different to every soul living there, each having been given a picture of limbo based upon their beliefs. The second land was for the people who had been good in their lives, and this heaven was once again built on every soul's individuality. There, they received their greatest desire and their vision of the perfect life. However, there was one land in the underworld, a third, which looked the same to every individual residing within it. Christians knew it as Hell, Greeks knew it as Tartaros, and the Norse proclaimed it to be the land of the dishonorable dead. A large system of caves made of brimstone and ash held the mourns and weepings of those lost and regretful souls. The walls were dark and laden with soot. Fire ants ringed the soil upon the ground and stung the skin. The unmistakable and foul combination of sulfur, blood and smoke filled the air inside of the forbidden fortress. Each path lead to a series of antechambers, from which cries of agony echoed from the rooms beneath. In each antechamber lay a specific punishment for those who had committed their crimes against humanity. The deepest chamber, a pit, held the darkest souls of all.

The dark one was a certain creature from vanaheim, a spirit of darkness, who had passed through many souls. Over the four thousand year period since the first dark one, two dozen of them had come and gone from the living world, beings who were once human who through an act of murder had become the host of this dark magic. Another had just taken on the mantle, but for some reason this one caused to call for a meeting of the others. Two dozen figures in black robes congregated within the deepest pit. Each of them carried a length of golden chains, weighing down the spirits of the prisoners. Their faces were hid by the darkness within their robes. These two dozen were all facing another hooded figure at the front of their congregation, the first dark one. There was tension in the air. Anticipation hung heavy in the poisonous air. For such powerful creatures, they seemed to be buzzing about and shaking like a group of townspeople awaiting a proclaimation. Inside of the alpha's robe, a female voice began to speak.

"Rumplestilltskin has become the new dark one. Of course, we must welcome Zozo among us." She nodded her head to another portly robed figure who stood away from the others, sulking as he stood in a nearby corner. "Give him time, he'll come around." she stated with a sigh. "After all, he will be with us for an eternity." at that, the others snickered, though even in their laughter there was still despair and mourning. One of the other robed figures spoke up, this time in a deep male voice. "So why have you assembled us, Nimue? There have been plenty of us before and you have never called us to order. Why? If we must suffer why must you make a point of it?" But on his mind was the same answer that everybody else was awaiting. Nimue held her head high, speaking in a determined, commanding voice. After all, she was their leader. "The time has come. The light one is coming into existence." at that, excited murmurs began to spread by whispers throughout the assembly, more than a few giving happy sighs, others whispering excitedly to each other. There was talk of the distant hopes that had faded for so long. Yet she was not done speaking. She held her hand up to quiet them, and strangely her hand seemed to be glistening in the little bit of flame that existed among them. "As we all know a prophecy exists in which our light magic counterpart, the light one, will be born again into the living world." she gave a sigh now, fingering the one thing that she had brought with her to the afterlife, a pewter ring among her finger. "My fiancee...was the first and only light one. Yet the prophecy explains that not him..but the spirit of the light will be reincarnated within another being. As the prophecy states, this being will be born of one of the dark ones and a human mother." at this point, one of the robed figures spoke up. "My lady...is Rumplestiltskin to be the sire of this creature? Is that why you have called upon us?" A hush came over the air. Above, even the screams of the tortured souls had silenced. Nimue gave a simple nod as she further explained. "Yes." Zozo scoffed, still bitter from his defeat. "Rumplestiltskin. The father of the light one. I don't think so. He is among the weakest of our kind. And his son is no magical being I assure you."

Nimue gave a glare, unseen, yet ever present within her hood. "What you perceive as weakness within Rumple is perhaps his greatest strength. He stabbed you to take your powers, and because of that he is the dark one. But that act was not done out of selfishness. Every single one of us has become the dark one because our murder was a purely selfish act. No...he did it to save his son's life. This was an act of love, born out of desperation to save his offspring." One of the others scoffed. "And what is your point, Nimue?" Even in the darkness of the robe, the annoyed rolling of her amber eyes could be seen. "My point is that Rumplestiltskin is the only one of us with the ability to love another, to put his own life...his very soul...at risk...for someone that he loved. He is the only one among us who is capable of finding love. Because of this, he will be the longest lived out of all of us. And...did I say that the light one was going to be male? No. There will be another. Baelfire will not become the light one." Snickers echoed among the crowd as another spoke up. "That is impossible. Not one of us has ever borne a child. Much less fallen in love after we have received our powers. No one could ever love us." Nimue shook her head, growling under her breath. "Idiots...do not you see what I mean? Are you not hearing what I am saying? The reason why Rumplestiltskin is so important is that one day he will fall in love. And another child will be born to him, one that will save us...and billions of other souls. We all know what the prophecy says about the ultimate fate of the second light one." They all bowed their heads solemnly, though not one of them had the courage to speak of what would happen in the future.

"How will we know when this being will live? How do we know when it will arrive?" One of the hooded figures, more timid than the others spoke up. Nimue nodded her head in terms of the question. "The prophecy states that The light one will come in the form of a child, one who has not yet come of age. The child will not be what we expect. The magical power that this creature will possess will be equal to all of our powers combined. It will also come in the form of a horse, or at least have the ability to become the animal. For the horse is a noble creature and a child has the innocence and love needed to do what the light one is destined to do. The half breed will be able to hold an infinity stone in their hand. Yet...again...it will not be what we expect. There will be something unique about the creature. I don't know what it will be, all that I know is what the prophecy explains. Beyond that, I cannot see the future." She looked out into the distance as if she was trying to see that brighter future and that brighter glow, that glimmer of hope, but all she could see thus far was the ash that covered the brimstone walls and the shades that assembled before her.

"Yet...we must be patient." Nimue sighed. "This being will not be born for a long while. In the meantime, we must try our best to make sure that the path is clear for her." "Her?!" the others gasped. Nimue nodded solemnly. "Yes. Since I was the first to sin, the child will be female to atone. Be patient, my followers. It will be many, many years. In the meantime we have something that we have never had before. Hope. You are dismissed." She waved them off, and as they drudged off to their caverns and their chains dragged behind them, she still stood there. She examined the pewter ring among her finger. A warm feeling came upon her that she had not felt in years. There was, for once, hope, that had started to exist within her heart. Her eyes settled upon the ring, and looked up with determination. "Soon my love. Soon" The fire within the cavern went out, and Nimue was left with the echoes of wailing and gnashing of teeth in the floors and caverns above her head. Oh how she wished Merlin were here with her now. It was her own damn fault that he wasn't. Yet there was that spark of hope that existed now. And through her heartache she reasoned that someday..just maybe..she would see him again and to feel his warm arms once again. "It is time to send the seer."