The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 1

hello! this story here was inspired by one of my best friends and my favourite show, Once Upon a Time.

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Once upon a time there was a princess named Valerie; and she was nothing like the fairy tale princesses you always read about. Why, you might ask? Well you see, Valerie has had a tough-upbringing so far. She has an overbearing and controlling mother and a rude dictator of a father. Her sister Kelly is the golden child, always getting the praise and love Valerie deserved.

So Valerie did the one thing she could of... to give up. But don't think so morbidly! She merely stopped trying. She doesn't care one bit about what her parents thought of her. Instead of paying attention at her lessons and being the poster child her parents wanted her to be, Valerie became the very opposite. Partying, sneaking off; the perfect picture of a rebel.

But the thing her parents hate the most is Valerie's favourite: magic. In their land it is only possessed by the most powerful of sorcerers and sorceresses. Valerie knows her parents have no capabilities to obtain this power. This is why she knew she had to get it. It was the only way to be free from the hell she lives in.

One night she lays in her bed, listening to the sounds coming from her sister's birthday celebration. The girl has just turned twelve so Valerie doesn't understand the big deal. Her sixteenth birthday wasn't nearly as big a deal and sixteen is way more important. Valerie huffs, her hands clenching into fists.

"Fuck this." She grumbles before rolling out of bed. She pulls on her best pair of boots after putting on black trousers. Valerie grabs a black blouse and her favourite hooded cape. The outside is a solid black piece of silk but the inside is covered in red and blue stitching. She loves how thick and fuzzy it is. It is also perfect for going out at night.

Valerie gets down on to her stomach to reach for the rope she keeps under her bed. After hauling it out she ties the end of it to the sturdy post of her thick oak bed frame. She walks over to her window and looks over before tossing the rest of the rope out of the window. Her parents thought they stopped the problem of her sneaking out out by moving her up to the highest tower but as if that can keep her contained. She's smarter than they think.

By now Valerie has the guard schedule and routes committed to memory. She waits for the guard to wander a few steps away and round the corner before lowering herself to the ground quickly and quietly. Then she double checks he's looking away before sprinting over to the stables. Valerie puts a saddle and bridle onto her dappled grey horse before leading him out out of the stable. Valerie looks to make sure the guard has left to get changed out before getting onto her horse and riding into the woods.

Using the moon as her guide, Valerie rides to a small clearing beside the river. She ties her stallion to a tree before taking a few steps into the open area. She takes a few deep breaths of cold fresh air before calling out, "Rumplestiltskin!"

A moment of dead silence passes, even the crickets stop chirping when a voice rings out, clear as a bell, "Well hello dearie."

"I'm here for a magic lesson." Valerie declares, voice steady. She turns in a circle as he walks around the perimeter of the clearing, his creepy golden eyes watching her. A few moments of silence pass until he stops and claps his hands together gleefully. A giggle escapes the monster's lips and a slick grin slides onto his face.

"So Princess Valerie is ready to escape the clutches of her parents?" Rumplestiltskin taunts and she nods quickly.

"I'm sick of getting the short end of the stick." She spits, her parent's insults and punishments popping into her mind. Her anger merely fuels his giddy behavior.