Hi guys! I have something brand new that I'll be working on throughout this summer! This is a direct take off from Once Upon a Time's season 6 finale, dealing with a newly engaged Dark OutlawQueen, and a brand new Dark Curse in which Dark OutlawQueen is separated and given new memories. There will be many fluffy moments for our lovely Evil Queen and her thief as well as angst. The Dark Curse will be slow burn as our characters will have to, once again, learn to regain their belief in hope and love. I hope you all enjoy this! Please comment and tell me what you think, and without further ado, I give you my first chapter!

Ever since that day, she made her home in the small yet lively city of Providence, Rhode Island. Residing in the St. Mary's Home for Children in North Providence, this young brunette passed the days drawing, writing, helping with chores, and attending the campus school.

It was a lovely orphanage. The caretakers there have shown themselves to be more than just kind. They were generous, nurturing, and understanding. This was a lovely temporary place in which she was to live, that is, until the time was right.

Her answers to their questions have been vague, and her demeanor, aloof, should the subject rise as to where exactly she came from and what her origins were. They thought she may be confused, disoriented, and even psychologically troubled.

But she knew better. She told them she was waiting, waiting for fate, for a sign.

"Then what will you do?" they all asked with the look of deep concern etched upon their brows.

"Then, I will follow destiny," was all they received for a reply as their patient shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, as if the answer is one so obvious.

"And what is destiny?"

"Finding a happy beginning."

"You mean a happy ending?"

"No, no. A happy beginning, a new adventure. There's no such thing as endings, only the start of something new."

The young brunette was bright, they gave her that. Yet, as the days rolled by, their concern for her whimsical thoughts grew steadily. No amount of therapy seemed to help the young girl, as she remained adamant in clinging onto her beliefs. It all soon reached the point when her caretakers found that they had no choice but to move her to a stronger psychiatric institution, an institution where she would gain more intense treatments for her apparent delusions.

This is not to say, however, that such a decision didn't significantly affect the hearts of all of the young girl's caretakers there. Aside from everything, she was loved by all who have gotten to know her. She was one of the most well behaved children in the orphanage. She never got into fights. She was gentle, gracious, and compassionate. She saw the good in everyone, and believed strongly in the possibility of hope and the magic of true love.

They all adored her, each caring for her as if she were their own. Each time she would pull out her favorite book of fairytales to read to the younger children before bedtime, all of her caretakers' hearts melted the minute they would witness her deep chocolate eyes become alight with a fascination, a connection, to the stories far beyond their understanding.

They didn't want to regard her delusions as problems. She was too tender of a child to be condemned. Yet, for her own good, they saw her transferal as necessary.

The news came to the young brunette late one Sunday afternoon. Her caretakers congregated in her room, sat down with her, and told her in the gentlest way possible. They could see the way her shoulders sagged in response, the way her eyes grew wide. She almost looked worried, even a bit frightened. And it broke their hearts. But the deed had been done. She was to move to Bradley Hospital in the coming days to begin her new treatment with a new group of specialists.

The young brunette didn't speak at all during this announcement. She took in the news with nothing but a solemn and distant look upon her face. The kind, reassuring faces of her caretakers couldn't even lift her spirits, as she could quite easily see the tears that rimmed their eyes as they spoke. Her heart sank for them, for they did not understand.

After twenty minutes of attempting to gain some type of reaction, any type of reaction from her, her caretakers filed out one by one after deciding it best she be left alone. The young brunette sighed softly, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them tightly. Gazing down, she rested her chin on her knees and looked over at the picture she had drawn of an apple and an arrow. Just then, a gust of wind began to blow through the open window by the bed on which she sat. It ruffled her hair and rattled the blinds. She turned her head just in time to see a small white feather dancing in the wind. She watched silently as it swayed back and forth to a silent melody, bending and twisting as the invisible force guided it along a path of a figure eight until it floated upward and disappeared from view.

Then, her eyes lit up once more, and she smiled.

Her caretakers found her gone the next day. Her room was empty, removed of what little personal belongings she had. The only thing that was left behind was a note that read, "Out chasing feathers. I'm ready for a new adventure."

"You look beautiful, milady." His voice has her attentive, her skin prickling. It's the feeling that everyone gets when the one a person loves enters the room.

"You think?" she answers nervously, her slender hands smoothing over the silky skirt of her immaculate gown. She turns one way and then the other. Her deep chocolate eyes scrutinize over her reflection. "It's not too—"

Her lover cuts her off with a soft laugh. As he approaches her from behind, his image becomes apparent in the mirror. He smiles warmly at the pair of eyes that flick up in his direction.

"No, Regina," he reassures, his voice soft yet heavily accented. "It's perfect."

"I don't know, Robin," Regina replies with a chuckle of uncertainty, "Maybe I should have gone with the other one. It was more simple."

Robin shakes his head, his brows frowning ever so slightly. "It was far too plain for you, my love," he objects, "This gown with the jewels, everything…it's fit for a queen. And last I checked, you are a queen." He smirks, stepping forward once more to wrap his arms around her middle and pull her close to his chest. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he gazes into the mirror at their reflection.

It's a beautiful gown, one that is most certainly worthy of royalty. It is long-sleeved; a snug, marvelously form-fitting piece of attire. Embroidered with the finest diamonds and crystals the kingdom has ever seen, the embellishments of the dress decorate the bodice and border the delicate off the shoulder neckline. An elegant train fans out around her feet. The moment Robin saw her try it on, he knew it was the one…and he knew that deep down, she knew it was as well. Already, he has fallen in love with the way his hands slide over the satin and silk that hug his love's curves so perfectly.

"Yes, I suppose," Regina sighs with a shrug of one shoulder.

"But not just any queen," Robin adds, placing a gentle kiss on the bare skin of her shoulder, earning a soft hum of approval from his beloved. "A redeemed queen." A smile spreads her lips in response. "A queen that is no longer evil. A queen that has turned over a new leaf."

"Only with the help of you. You also owe a great deal to your other half."

"Don't be so modest. She only showed me the way to you. It was you who carried it on."

"But you asked to buy me a drink first that night at the tavern."

"I suppose I did…"

Robin chuckles softly, pressing his nose to her neck and inhaling his most favorite scent in all of the realms. "I'm glad you did," he murmurs against her skin.

Regina hums softly in appreciation as she tilts her head to the side, allowing him more access to her perfect olive skin. "And here we are," she whispers.

"Here we are," he replies.

"Back in the Enchanted Forest."

"Back in the Enchanted Forest."

"A queen and her thief."

"That's right."

"About to get married."

Robin nods gently, humming his affirmative in reply.

"Why?"

He frowns slightly in confusion. He lifts his chin from its resting spot on her shoulder to gaze at her once more through the mirror. "Why?" he repeats, "Why are we getting married?"

Regina laughs softly. "Not that, thief," she chastises lightly, "There's absolutely no reason you should ever need to ask that question. I mean, why did you—ask—the way you did?"

Robin's brows lift in understanding, his lips parting in an "O". "Oh, I understand," he says, "Why did I shoot an arrow at you?"

"Exactly," the queen replies, tossing her brunette, waist-length locks over one shoulder. She tucks a strand of her tresses behind an ear. "Why did you resort to that method? Your arrow could have easily taken off my head."

She watches as the thief's lips curl into a devious yet playful smirk. "But it didn't." He shrugs. "Truthfully, I wanted to do something different, and perhaps a bit creative," he replies, "I wanted to surprise you."

Regina laughs gently. "Well, that was indeed creative."

"Why thank you, milady."

"But there was still that small chance of you—"

"But I never miss my target."

The brunette queen chuckles, shaking her head fondly. She turns in his arms, looking up at him. Her eyes are wide and full of love. It is a look so different from what she has worn in the past as the former Evil Queen. Now, Regina bears new titles: Queen of Resilience, Queen of Thieves and of the Merry Men…Queen of Robin of Locksley's Heart.

Never had she ever thought this day would come, that she would stand here in her bedchamber, in the arms of her one true love, dressed in her wedding gown to be. This is the lightest her heart has ever felt. And she intends to hold on to this light no matter what the cost, for with such light comes love, the most powerful magic of all.

"So are you sure this is it?" Regina confirms, "This is the one?"

Robin nods fervently in response. "Yes, milady," he replies, "So long as you like it, this is the one."

A small smile splits the queen's lips and she nods softly. "Yes," she affirms, "I like it."

"Then it's settled," the thief says with a grin of his own.

"I can't believe this is happening," Regina whispers excitedly, shaking her head. She bites her lip softly, her eyes glistening with held tears of joy. "I've been dreaming about this my entire life."

"I know, my love," Robin says, raising his hand to gently cup her cheek. She leans into his touch. "And now you have it."

"Our happy ending."

"No, my Regina, our happy beginning…our new adventure—And oh! I almost forgot." Robin glances down. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a delicate silver chain, on which dangles a beautiful silver feather pendant whose crystals sparkle as they reflect the light. "This is for you."

He watches with a beaming smile as Regina's eyes widen, her lips parting in awe. "Robin," she breathes, reaching out to delicately touch the pendant, "It's beautiful." She pulls her hand away, her smile turning into a smirk as she raises her brow. "You didn't steal this, did you?"

At her question, Robin laughs aloud, shaking his head. "No, milady," he chuckles, "This, I purchased…" He clears his throat. "…perhaps with the money I've stolen, but that's besides the point," he adds with a grin.

Regina laughs, shaking her head as she turns around and pulls up her ebony locks, allowing him to clasp the chain around her neck. Turning back towards him, she gazes down, admiring the pendant and feeling the weight of its cool metal sit between the swells of her breasts.

"I love it," Regina muses, her fingers dancing over the necklace once more. "Why the feather, though?"

"Because it's a sign of hope," Robin answers, "…Or so I hear."

Regina lifts a brow, looking up into her lover's sapphire eyes. "Hope," she repeats slowly.

"Yes, Regina, hope," her lover replies. He covers the hand that caresses the pendant with his, holding it firmly. "Let this, along with our wedding bands, be a sign of hope, hope for a bright future…hope for a new adventure full of love and light and everything we could possibly ask for, so long as we are together…forever."

Regina smiles at Robin. A tear of joy softly slips from the rim of her eye and slides down her cheek. She shakes her head, gazing up at him in wonder and awe, astounded and confused as to what it was that she could have possibly done to deserve such a man. Perhaps she will never know.

"Forever," she breathes, "Forever and always."

It has taken her just about an eternity to travel from Providence to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. And that is only half of it. After many hours spent riding multiple busses and enduring the peculiar looks of every single driver, she has arrived at the water's edge. Her money is running low, yet she has just enough to buy herself one more ticket and a cab ride once she has arrived.

Walking into the terminal, the young brunette asserts herself and is able to walk away with that one ticket…a ticket for the Martha's Vineyard ferry.

A few more hours she must wait before the next ferry arrives. It is just about daybreak when she fearlessly boards the steamship, handing her ticket to a crewmember who scans it whilst wearing a confused expression upon his features. Like she's done the rest, she pays no mind to it and marches inside, choosing a seat by the window on the upper deck in which to enjoy the forty-five minute ride.

Sleeping through the entire duration of the ride, she almost misses the ferry's horn signaling its arrival into the island's central harbor in Vineyard Haven. The moment she sets foot on land, she calls one of the cabs sitting nearby.

"Where to, miss?" the driver inquires in a bored monotone.

"Just start driving," the girl replies with a firm nod.

"You're kidding me," the man spits, narrowing his brows at her, the look of bewilderment plastered across his features.

The young brunette nods fervently. "Yes, sir," she replies, "Just drive, please, until I say so."

The man groans, nodding in defeat. He's far too tired to argue with a ten year old. "Fine, get in."

Sliding into the backseat, the brunette tosses her backpack on the seat beside her. The car begins to move and she glances downward, clutching gently at the delicate silver chain around her neck. Softly, her fingers dance over the dangling silver feather pendant whose crystals sparkle as they catch the passing traffic lights. A smile appears upon her lips as the jewels begin to glow, however, softly at first. It takes about a half an hour of driving for the glowing to become brighter and brighter, appearing as if the pendant is surrounded in a silver light. All the while, the confident brunette directs the driver as to where to drive, based on the intensity of the pendant's glow.

It is when they arrive at a small fishing village called Menemsha, in the southwest corner of the island, when the brunette's necklace is glowing at its fullest. There, the young brunette is calling for a halt. She slides out of the car after handing a few bills to the still perplexed driver before making her way then, on foot, following the direction in which her enchanted pendant pulls.

It leads her off the main road, up a small dirt path which is followed into what seems to be the woods. Yet there, nestled between the trees and bushes at the very end, is a quaint little blue bungalow styled beach house. The young brunette takes a deep breath and walks up the stone pathway. Her heart flutters within her chest, yet she keeps a calm demeanor on the outside. Biting her lip, she reaches the door. Lifting her hand, she makes a fist and gently raps on the wood with her knuckles. Thrice she does so until the sound of a latch being undone can be heard. And the door is popped open.

And there, peeking around the entranceway from the darkness inside is a beautiful brunette with fair olive skin. Her deep chocolate eyes gaze down at the young girl with intensity and a profoundness to them. She furrows her perfectly shaped brows, a look of confusion written upon her features.

"Um…can I help you?" the woman asks, frowning at the young brunette who stands boldly on her porch.

"Are you Regina Mills?" the girl speaks, her voice raising a few octaves.

"Uh, yes…" the brunette replies cautiously. Biting her lip, she nervously brings a slender hand up to tuck a few strands of her shoulder length locks behind her ear. "Who are you?"

The young brunette lifts her chin. "I'm Reya. Reya Feathers. And I'm your daughter."

Reya watches the look of surprise and horror suddenly cross the features of the woman whose eyes grow wide. "I don't have a daughter," Regina says quickly, masking the panic in her voice as best she can as she swiftly tries to close the door.

However, Reya adamantly pushes it open once more before it can fully shut. "Yeah, you do," she insists, "Now listen. This is important. He needs you."

Regina frowns deeply, gripping tightly onto the sides of the door. "Who needs me?" she demands.

Ending sound familiar? ;)

Just a few notes in case you're curious: I picked Martha's Vineyard not only because it's my favorite place in the whole entire world and I know the island like the back of my hand, but also because it reminds me of Storybrooke. It has that element of a small utopia that's so removed from the rest of the world, which resembles Storybrooke so perfectly. Throughout the fic, you'll see various bits and pieces of Martha's Vineyard and hopefully fall in love with this little piece of paradise just like I have. It's the perfect place for our characters to let go of their fears and defy the odds stacked against them by their present circumstance.

Thanks for coming by, I really hope you enjoyed this little bit! Next update to come soon, so stay tuned! Don't forget to leave a review!