The Dark Princess [ A Once Upon A Time Fan-fic]

Chapter 15: The Underworld

In their way to save Hook from the Underworld, the heroes realized they were encountering a lot of people they either destroyed or loved but lost: Regina's father Henry, Cora, Peter Pan, Cruella De Vil, etc. So, Raven had an idea: Maybe Mirana was here, so she decided to look for her.

-I'll be back.- She said to the others.- I just have to find someone here, if she's even here.

-I'll help.- Henry said.

-No, this is something I have to do alone.

-Raven, it's too dangerous. There's probably a lot of people here because of you, what if someone tries to hurt you.- Henry insisted.

-I can still send them to hell. Better not test me.- Raven joked.- I'm kidding! I'll watch my back, you don't have to worry about me, I'll be ok.

-Alright. Be careful.- Raven nodded and went off to find her biological mother.

She found her on the gardener shop, for some reason Mirana always liked plants, probably more than her own daughter, but that didn't matter. What made Raven really curious was the fact that nothing ever grew on "Underbrooke" so, why would her mother concern about plants when there were none?

-Oh! a Customer! We don't have much merchandise right now but... Raven.- The White Queen said with a monotone voice.- Well I guess someone managed to...

-I'm not dead, Mirana. I came with my family to save one of them. I am very much alive, but it's great to know you would welcome me here with open arms unlike back in Wonderland.- Raven smiled sarcastically.

-Raven, I... I've missed you. A lot.

-Don't care. How has death treated you by the way?

-Not very good but, I manage. How are you?

-Now you care? After all these years without even thinking about me. I'm good, I have a family and a loving boyfriend.

-Boyfriend? Who?

-I don't trust you with names. You know how to manipulate them and I won't risk him. If you're "dying" to know he's Cora's grandson. Changing the subject, do you know who killed you?

-The Queen of Hearts. Who else? She wanted my kingdom, she came, she got it. End of the story.

-Cora.

-Yes, Cora.

-I'll thank her when I see her.- Raven headed to the exit.

-Raven.- The Queen said authoritably.- You are still my daughter.- Softening her tone.

-Didn't seem like it when you banished me, on my birthday by the way.

-I- I'm sorry. I was blinded with anger, just like you were that day. Being dead for so long showed me that... You are my unfinished business, I have to apologize and I can't move on until I know that you don't hate me completely. That even for as smaall as it is there is still room in your heart to love me.

-Then too bad for you I guess, I can't love you. Not after everything, not after every person that has come after you and that has done a better job at being a mother than you have.- Raven left the store with tears in her eyes but she wiped them away, she didn't want to cry over a woman who didn't deserve it. Raven knew that if she gave that satisfaction to her that she would go to a better place, Mirana wanted to use her as her ticket and Raven wasn't going to be used by her ever again.

Raven figured the others would go to The Charmings' apartment so she headed there and made it safely not without some killer looks from random people though which made her a little bit nervous. She knocked the door and it was carefully opened by Emma and the others.

-Don't worry. Just me.- Raven said with her usual tone.

-How did it go?- Emma asked.

-Bad.- She replied.- I mean, it's Mirana after all. With her everything goes bad for me.

-Are you ok?.- Everyone asked and Raven smiled at their concern.

-Yeah, or at least I will be. She can't hurt me that bad anymore, I just wanted to make sure she was the same as she always have been, and now I am sure.

-Did you figure out her unfinished business?- Regina asked

-Me, I'm her unfinished business but I can't give it to her. I can't grant her the opportunity to get into my head again. Not until her apologies are real at least.

-Well, you know you have us.- Snow said with a sincere smile.

-Thank you.- That's where Raven cracked.- Thank you so much.

She hugged Snow so tight and everyone around them joined in the hug. Robin hesitated for a second but, after a couple of seconds he joined in as well. That's when Raven knew that she didn't need Mirana or Julia. She already had the best family she could ever have and she wouldn't change it for the world.

But now came the hard part. Getting the last member of her family back: Hook. He was the closest thing Raven had to a Father figure and it was awesome. All the fishing trips, the sarcastic jokes and all the times they protected each other.

Around Hook, Raven could be herself, she could let go of her stress and she could be free. If she lost that, it would be too much. Maybe not enough to break her but it would hurt her badly. She couldn't let him go, at least not yet, she had to prepare herself for the worst and Henry would help her do that.

She asked him to always pop her bubble if she got her hopes up to much, she couldn't expect too much specially with Hades on their tail constantly, she couldn't allow herself to hope, at least not a lot of it. Not yet.