#once upon a time rpg | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

gcthvile · 9 months ago

Text

The Prince of Light and The Shadow King

Characters: Charming! Nikolai, Dark Prince! Alexander, Queen Baghra and King Eryk.

warnings: violence, abuse

fandom: OUAT

summary: Alexander's lust for power poisons the kingdom, but Nikolai's light still burns. As the Shadow King tightens his grip, Nikolai prepares to rise against the darkness forever oppressing their land.

In the kingdom of Vinterkyla, Queen Baghra rejoiced at the birth of her first son - Alexander, a healthy baby boy born under the light of the full moon.

From his first cries, all who heard knew this child was gifted, or cursed, with a power over shadows. Darkness itself seemed to swirl around the infant Alexander, dancing at his command.

Five long years passed with no further heirs. The prince grew into his gift, manipulating shadows with alarming precision for one so young. While a source of pride, Alexander's talents also brought unease to the court.

His eyes shone with an unnatural affinity for the dark arts, forbidden knowledge somehow calling to the prince even then. Alexander's soul seemed to blacken more each day, cruelty replacing childhood innocence.

Finally, the queen announced another royal birth was imminent. On a dawn full of promise, Prince Nikolai entered the world - a beacon of light to counter his elder brother's darkness.

Though smaller, Nikolai was fierce and strong. From the first, he displayed an affinity for banishing shadows with his joyful presence. But while the kingdom rejoiced over their newest prince, tensions were rising within the royal family.

Alexander grew fiercely possessive and jealous of the attention shown to Nikolai. And as the brothers grew into their powers, it became clear a great rivalry was blossoming between the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness.

"Come brother, let's see who masters the dark arts best."

Prince Alexander smirked down at Nikolai, only 10 winters to his 15. They stood in the shadowy training arena, a gift from their father meant to nurture the brothers' talents. But Alexander had more sinister plans.

"I do not wish to compete, Alexander," Nikolai said cautiously. "Our powers should be used to help people, not hurt each other."

"Help people?" Alexander spat. "Power is meant to rule people, Nikolai, not coddle them. And I will rule this land someday, with you as my humble servant..."

He flung out a hand, shadows lashing towards Nikolai faster than he could follow. Just in time, Nikolai brought up a shield of light, dissipating the tendrils into wisps of smoke.

"You will have to do better than that," smirked Nikolai, though fear curdled in his gut at his brother's malice. Alexander's eyes narrowed.

"So the little prince has some fight after all. Let us see how you handle this!" With a roar, a wave of pitch darkness slammed into Nikolai, sending him crashing through shields of light into the wall.

He gasped in pain as Alexander loomed over him, shadows wrapping his body like chains. "You were a mistake, Nikolai. Mother should have birthed me as an only child, to rule as I was meant to!"

His hand gripped Nikolai's throat as shadows curled around his windpipe. "This kingdom will be mine alone. Say farewell, little brother..."

Suddenly a light flared within Nikolai, banishing the shadows with an explosion of power. He collapsed, panting. "One...day...people will see...you for...what you are..."

Alexander's eyes blazed with loathing. This was only the beginning.

Several bitter winters had passed since the tragic demise of King Eryk and Queen Baghra. Though the cause was never determined, all knew Dark Prince Alexander had much to gain by their absence.

Within days, he had seized the throne of Vinterkyla, crowning himself King with ruthless efficiency. But Alexander's ambition was not sated with mere political power. He lusted to master the dark magics his parents had forbidden, including full command over shadows themselves.

To do so required energy, sacrifice...and a certain "assistant" to direct as a vessel for his experiments. Younger brother Nikolai was the perfect subject. Now at 20 winters to Alexander's 25, Nikolai remained defiantly loyal to their people - a threat to the new Shadow King.

Under guise of 'brotherly training,' Alexander relentlessly drilled Nikolai in the murkiest arts, draining his strength and will. "Again!" he would order, shadows lashing Nikolai's bleeding body as he struggled to obey dark summoning.

"You must learn to master your shadows fully, dear brother," Alexander crooned sadistically. "Only then can you fulfill your duty to our kingdom. Our people depend on you, after all..."

But as Nikolai healed lonely nights in his cell, mending slashes inflicted by his "teacher," doubts emerged. Had his parents truly died of plague as proclaimed? The haunting suspicions kindled Nikolai's first flames of rebellion against Alexander's "rule."

So when next summoned for "practice," Nikolai refused, staring defiantly into Alexander's coal-black eyes. "I will no longer be your puppet in these evil schemes. Release me, and our people, from your twisted games!"

Alexander's face twisted with murderous fury. At last, his brother dared defy him - an act of insolence that would not go unpunished.

"Insolent fool!" Alexander's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare oppose me? I am king!" Dark tendrils lashed out, slicing Nikolai's cheek before he could react.

"All this time I nurtured your powers, and this is how you repay me?" the Shadow King hissed. "You shall learn respect, dear brother, even if I must beat it into you!"

Steeling himself, Nikolai called to the light still burning deep within. A shield flared around his body, deflecting the next barrage of shadows. "No more will I be your plaything, Alexander! Release our people from your tyranny!"

Alexander howled with rage. The very stones of the castle shuddered as he summoned his full command over darkness. "So be it! If you will not serve willingly, then you shall know true suffering in your place!"

A great claw of shadows lunged, seizing Nikolai in an unbreakable grip. Try as he might, no flash of light could pierce the evil magic constricting tighter with each struggle.

"Take him to the depths!" Alexander spat at the waiting guards. "Let him rot in the eternal darkness where no light may find him. Perhaps that will break his defiant spirit at last."

As Nikolai was dragged kicking and screaming into the dungeon's black maw, he vowed this was not the end. Somewhere, deep within his soul, the spark of rebellion still glowed faint but fierce. One day, he would rise again.

Many bitter winters had passed for Prince Nikolai under the ruthless hand of his brother and the constant torture of being dragged back to the dungeon for evey small mistake. Through all the King's tortures to break his soul, the light within never fully died. Each flicker of hope buoyed Nikolai through the endless darkness.

Now at 25 years, his body and magic were strongest. Summoning every last bit of power, Nikolai blasted apart the cell seals in a brilliant flash. Guards screamed as their shadows melted, clearing Nikolai's escape route at last.

Bolting up rotting stairs into the icy night, Nikolai never looked back at the cursed fortress which had been his prison for so long. Silent as the snowfall, he fled into the woods, shadow walking for hours to throw off any pursuers.

Dawn was breaking when Nikolai finally collapsed, weary but free. Safe for now in a snowy glade, he allowed much-needed rest. But little did the runaway prince know, his absence had been discovered...

Back at the castle, Alexander raged for hours upon discovering Nikolai's cell empty. How dare that insolent brother defy him after all these years? The King vowed Nikolai would pay dearly if ever found.

"I will hunt you to the ends of the earth, my brother," Alexander snarled to his scrying pool, spying Nikolai unconscious on the edge of his domain. "Whatever misery you suffered is nothing compared to what awaits your return to my kingdom!"

His twisted laughter echoed through the trees carried on dark wings, announcing to all that the Shadow King's vengeance was at hand.

Nikolai shivered awake as sunlight warmed his cheeks, banishing the last vestiges of a nightmare. For the first time in years, his dreams had been solely his own. A fact not lost on the runaway prince as he took in his snowy surroundings.

"At last, I am truly free," Nikolai whispered to the glade, allowing a tentative smile. But dark flutters at the treeline stole away any joy. Shadows swirled between the trunks, searching...

"Did you believe it would be so easy to escape me, brother?" Alexander's voice carried on those evil wisps as he stalked into view. "No place on this earth is beyond my grasp, thanks to your years of...service."

The Shadow King's words dripped with twisted fondness. Nikolai rose unsteadily but did not back down. "I will never return to your twisted games, Alexander. My will is my own!"

A chorus of sibilant laughter answered. "On the contrary, little Nikolai. You have always been, and always will be, my pawn."

From the trees, legions of shadow creatures surged towards their master's prey. The brothers morphed into writhing silhouettes as shadow magic lit the glade in a chaotic dance.

But Nikolai had survived the darkness, and it had made him strong. A beacon flared, incinerating the first wave of monsters. The battle was joined - and at last, years of pent up vengeance would find their release.

Nikolai called upon all he had endured, channeling years of suffering into his magic. Flames roared from his hands, reducing Alexander's shadow beasts to wispy cinders on the freezing wind.

But for each monster fallen, two more arose from the inky masses at their master's command. Nikolai fought with the fury of one who had stared too long into the dark, matching each strike blow for blow.

Alexander gazed upon the fray with maddened glee. At last, his brother showed his true potential - a weapon the Shadow King still hoped to wield, despite all Nikolai's resistance.

"You fight well for a escaped prisoner, I'll allow. But you cannot stand against my full power forever!" Alexander threw back his head in a shrieking laugh that curdled the air.

Darkness swelled around them in a suffocating tide, engulfing the clearing. Nikolai's flames guttered under the oppressive shadows' weight, his light struggling to pierce the evil ink.

Was this to be his end, after coming so far? Nikolai refused to let it be so easily. Gathering his flagging strength for a final gambit, he unleashed a nova of solar brilliance.

The Shadow King's shrieks mingled with the dying squeals of his minions as Nikolai's flare countered the darkness in a calamitous explosion. When the smoke cleared, both brothers lay broken amid the clearing's ashes.

As the smoke cleared, Nikolai was the first to stir. Every fibre of his being ached, but he was alive - for now. Struggling to his feet, he spotted Alexander nearby, still unconscious amid the smoldering ashes.

An idea took hold in Nikolai's mind. After so long under this cruel man's thumb, a chance for vengeance was laid before him. With a whispered word, shadows snaked towards the Shadow King's prone form, coiling like serpents to strike.

Yet as they reared back to deliver a killing blow, Nikolai hesitated. Even after all the torment, some small part of his heart still clung to hope that the brother of his youth may one day return.

"Come back to the light, Alexander," he urged softly. "This path of darkness will only destroy you, as it has almost destroyed me. There is still hope for change..."

At that moment, Alexander stirred with a guttural groan. His ink-black eyes flickered open, locking immediately on Nikolai standing over him. Recognition dawned, followed by naked fury as he recalled their duel.

"You..." Alexander hissed through bloody teeth. With inhuman speed, he summoned a tendril to whip around Nikolai's ankle, yanking him off his feet. "I will end you for your insolence, once and for all!"

Darkness closed in as the Shadow King crawled on hands and knees towards his brother, ready to squeeze the life from him. But Nikolai was not out of tricks just yet.

The battle was over as Nikolai finally stood victorious over his brother's fallen form, the shadows answering his call began to recoil. Alexander lay unmoving, his corrupted essence burned away by Nikolai's holy power.

All seemed still, until a rasping chuckle rose from the Shadow King. "You...may have won this battle...brother. But the darkness is...eternal. I will...rise again."

With those ominous words, Alexander dissolved into a pool of inky smoke. It swirled together, compacting into a widening vortex that pulled his retreating form deep underground.

Nikolai watched in dismay, realizing the shadow portal would allow his brother to escape justice once more. But perhaps this fate was worse - to wander souls eternally, power broken but vengeance unquenched.

"This is not over, Alexander!" Nikolai called into the fading portal. "When next you rise, I will be waiting! The light will always stand against your darkness."

And with that, the vortex sealed shut, leaving no trace of the fallen Shadow King. Nikolai surveyed the ashes of conflict, knowing in his heart this was only the beginning. Someday, Alexander would return, reforged in darker magics than before.

I think I'm getting quite addicted to writing OUAT AU fics

tags: @missstrawbs2001 @jackiequick @blueboirick @cherrysft @meiramel @purpleprincessonfyre @ask-missparker @askstevella @therealdaydreamstark @rickb-chaos @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @gaminggirlsstuff

#oc post #oc rp #oc rpg #ouat #once upon a time au #once upon a time #nikolai morozov #alexander morozov #prince charming #the dark prince

14 notes · View notes