Title: Ever After

Author: Jasmine Shigeru

Pairing: Rumbelle, Outlaw Queen, Snowing, and Swanfire.

Summary: Cora has cast a terrible curse. Now, everyone is placed in the world as she sees fit. Regina is the dutiful daughter, Henry is the shy grandson, Neal Cassidy is the providing father, Mr. Gold is the lonely landlord and pawnbroker, Belle is the quiet librarian, Snow White is the meek schoolteacher, David Nolan the single sheriff, Emma the sheriff's sweet sister, Hook is Cora's loyal bodyguard, Robin is the florists employee, and Zelena is out of the picture. With everyone in the wrong place, it will take a mysterious book, a family, and three kisses of true love to break the curse.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time nor do I wish I do. This is just for my entertainment and whoever wishes to read it. I am not making any profit from this and do not care for that matter.

Rating: M

Author's Note: This is set during season 3 with major changes. Cora is still alive, she wasn't able to get Rumple's dagger. Zelena still comes to Storybrooke with the same plan she had, but Cora worked in the background to ruin the plans. Regina still becomes good. Neal isn't dead, he was replaced by someone from Belle's court. Snow is still pregnant. Hook is still a villain. He is not with Emma for this story (I do ship them). They just won't work for this story. Also, no Marion drama. She's dead and Zelena doesn't pretend to be her. All the Neverland stuff happened.

Ever After

By: Jasmine Shigeru

Prologue: The Red Curse

POV: Cora

"Zelena," Cora said sweetly as she stroked the cheek of her oldest daughter. "I need for you to do something for me, dear."

Zelena smiled adoringly at her mother. She was finally getting the attention she wanted. Cora wanted her help, not her sister, Regina's help. Zelena was finally going to prove to her mother that she should have never been abandoned.

"Anything, mother," Zelena said.

"Good," Cora said with a smile as she stroke her girl's hair. "I need for you to terrorize a little librarian for me."

"The Dark One's lover," Zelena scoffed. "Rumpelstiltskin will never allow anyone near her."

"Don't worry about Rumple. He'll be too busy trying to save his son to worry about his little Belle. Get to the librarian."

The two shared a wicked smile before Zelena vanished in a puff of green smoke.

Now, Cora was waiting in front of a bubbling cauldron. Everything was going perfectly. The heroes were busy trying to rescue Rumple's son and were clueless what really was going on. All that was needed were the blood of a former lover and something precious to one of her daughters.

A green puff of smoke appeared next to her and Zelena was by her side with one hand wrapped tightly around Belle's arm and the other holding the Dark One's dagger.

"Very good, Zelena," Cora praised as she took a hold of the dagger. "Now, for the final part of my plan."

"Whatever you're doing you won't get away with this," Belle said.

"But I already have," Cora said with a sly smile. She waved her hand at Belle and she fell to sleep. Zelena allowed the petite woman to fall to the ground.

"What did you do that for?" Zelena asked indignantly. "I worked really hard to capture her."

"I didn't need her my dear," Cora said. "I only needed the dagger.

She held the dagger out in front of her.

"Dark One I summon you," she said with a triumphant smile.

Another puff of smoke appeared across from her, this time a dark reddish color.

"Cora," Rumpelstiltskin sneered. "What's the meaning of this?"

His eyes flicked to Belle.

"A curse Rumple," Cora said with laughter in her voice. "One that you passed over for the Dark Curse. One that will change this world to the way I want it."

"The Red Curse," Rumple said between clenched teeth. "You've found it."

The Queen of Hearts was sure that the Dark One remembered exactly why he passed the Red Curse. The Red Curse was similar to the Dark Curse. While either curse would have given the Evil Queen the revenge she sought, only one would lead Rumple to his son. Both curses took sacrifice and malicious intent. Both could mold the world into what the caster desired. Both allowed the caster to retain their memories. But the differences were huge. The Dark Curse took a more personal sacrifice while the Red Curse only needed heartfelt value as a sacrifice. The Dark Curse's sacrifice, the heart of someone the caster loved. The Red Curse needed more to activate, something a blood relative cherished, the blood of a former or current lover, and the genuine tears of the caster. Cora had kept her heart long enough to gain her own tears. The Dark Curse only needed one kiss of true love to break it. The Red Curse needed three. But the main reason Rumple did not allow Regina to cast the Red Curse was obvious. The Red Curse only affected the land the caster was in while casting the curse. The Dark Curse sent the caster and whoever they wanted to the Land Without Magic, the one place Rumple needed to be.

Cora was sure he thought he hid the Red Curse well, but she knew him better than he wanted to remember.

"Yes," Cora hissed. "And all I need is your blood and something precious. Now, Dark One, I command you to come to me."

Rumple approached her. His eyes fell on Belle again.

"Remove your jacket."

He did and the black jacket fell to the ground.

"Roll up your sleeve then hold your arm over the cauldron," Cora instructed.

With a look of disgust, he removed his cufflink. He rolled up his sleeve before holding his arm over the cauldron.

"Zelena, my dear, would you do the honor of making our dear Rumple bleed?"

Zelena smiled and conjured a jagged knife.

"Gladly," she said and grabbed Rumple's arm before cutting him with the blade of the knife.

Rumpelstiltskin flinched as he bled heavily into the cauldron. The wound healed quickly after a few large drops fell.

The liquid in the cauldron turned blood red. The bright red smoke poured out.

"Now for something precious from someone close to me," she said.

"I will give you anything mother," Zelena said loyally.

"Still pining for your mother's love, I see," Rumple mocked the wicked witch.

Zelena bared her teeth at him.

"So primal," the Dark One said.

"You have done well, my dear, but your job is done," Cora said. "It's something of Regina's I need."

"What, why her?" Zelena cried out.

"Well, not her exactly. Just something precious to her," the Queen of Hearts said. "Dark One, I command you to bring me Henry Mills and while you're at it, do not tell the heroes and my daughter about my plans."

In a puff of reddish smoke, Rumpelstiltskin vanished.

"Mother, allow me to be the last piece you need," Zelena begged. "Let me prove to you that I am better than Regina."

"Your jealousy is showing my dear," Cora said and Zelena's hand rose to her neck. Of course, Zelena's jealousy was not really showing like it did in the Enchanted Forest and Oz. "I know that you are loyal to me and I appreciate your devotion. But there is nothing you own that will complete the curse. It has to be something of Regina's. Do not think I love you any less."

The hand not holding the dagger gently stroked Zelena's cheek. It was supposed to be a motherly expression and to Zelena, it was, but the gesture was hollow. Cora had removed her heart, again. Her heart was replaced when she tried to become the Dark One and for a while, Cora really did what was best for Regina. Then Zelena came onto the scene and everything changed. Cora wanted it all. Power and status. Zelena was a reminder of the lengths she would go through to accomplish her goals.

Cora had found the Red Curse while trapped in the Enchanted Forest during the Dark Curse. She never had reason to use it until recently.

Rumpelstiltskin reappeared with Henry.

"Let go of me," the boy demanded as he struggled in his grandfather's grasp.

"Settle down Henry," Cora cooed.

"You won't get away with this," Henry shouted back at her.

Cora laughed.

"My dear boy, I already have," she said approaching him and Rumpelstiltskin. Without preamble, she took a hold of a lock of hair from Henry's head and with the Dark One's dagger cut the hairs. She tossed the hairs into the cauldron. It did not take long for the red smoke to burst out heavily from the container.

The Red Curse was complete. But before the curse could take the five people completely, Rumpelstiltskin let go of Henry. He grabbed his dagger from Cora's grasps and Henry knocked the woman over. Zelena grabbed Henry by his collar while Rumpelstiltskin woke Belle. This all took only a matter of seconds before they watched as the red smoke engulfed them. Cora and Zelena practically cackled not carrying about the last second scuffle. Cora was getting exactly what she always wanted and the best part, no one would have a clue of what happened just outside of the town.

END OF PROLOGUE