Chapter Text
"I call upon all the forces of the universe, Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!"
However, nothing seemed to have happened. Lady Tremaine looked at the magic wand in her hand with confusion. She'd just seen Anastasia work magic with the old woman's wand, yet it didn't seem to be working for Tremaine. She briefly wondered if she'd said the magic words correctly when-
BAM!
The wand fired a bolt of green magic into the sky above, and Tremaine barely kept her grip on the wand as it did. Storm clouds began to gather, and lightning illuminated the sky. A wry smile crept onto Tremaine's lips. Her moment of power had finally arrived!
"Reverse the moon and sun!" Tremaine bellowed as she ordered history itself to reverse. "Turn back tide and time!"
As Tremaine gestured to the sky, the sun rose in the west only to set again in the east and do it all over again only seconds later.
"Unravel Cinderella's happily ever after to the moment my troubles began!" Tremaine commanded.
A vortex of lime green magic gathered up above, and a snaking trail of green light descended from it. Anastasia and Drizella recoiled in fear, but Tremaine held firm. She knew this magic was her chance to set right what had gone wrong. It held no terror for her. As the magic engulfed her, Tremaine watched with wicked glee as Cinderella and Prince Charming were forcibly ripped apart. Their story quite literally reversed before her very eyes. Finally, when Tremaine saw in the mist the morning of the Grand Duke's arrival at her chateau, Tremaine halted the spell.
"STOP!"
She had done it! Lady Tremaine had successfully transmuted time itself, and her second chance worked far better than her first. Anastasia was to marry the prince, and Cinderella would have been banished forever. Yet fate had a way of unraveling even the best laid plans. Tremaine was defeated, time was put back the way it was, and she was stripped of her power over time itself.
But, as the old saying goes, "once you've had a taste, you'll never be the same..."
Tremaine ran her fingers over the black wand and admired the woodwork. It was exquisitely made, and the ornate wiring around the handle gave it a flashy appearance that the Fairy Godmother's plain wand hadn't possessed.
"A marvelous tool indeed," Tremaine remarked as she took it by the handle. "It feels very flexible yet sturdy."
"That's because it is, sweetcakes," Ursula said from behind the counter.
Ursula had many shops across the universe, and each branch was called "Castaway Cabana." It was Ursula's way of keeping tabs on various worlds for the Overtakers and also getting her tentacles on rare and unique magical items. This particular wand had come from the Storybrooke shop.
"You said it belonged to someone called the Black Fairy?" Tremaine asked.
"That's right," Ursula nodded. "Most fairies are born either light or dark, Seelie or Unseelie. The Black Fairy, on the other hand, is the only light fae who ever turned herself dark. She accumulated quite a lot of dark power that was stored within that wand."
Tremaine grinned. "And it will match the power of the wand that I lost?"
"All that and more, dear!" Ursula nodded. "Trust me, this is the moment you've been waiting for! Your big break into the big leagues!"
Tremaine and Ursula shared a chuckle over that. When Lady Tremaine was recruited by Steve Newlin to be one of the Overtakers' "Undertakers," she accepted the job gratefully. After all, it was a step upward in the hierarchy of power, and Tremaine always believed in moving upward at all cost. However, city planning and managing the day to day life of the Overtaken Kingdom wasn't quite what Tremaine was after. She'd always known that she was worthy of being an Overtaker in her own right, and it was only a matter of time before her superiors realized that.
Tremaine waved the wand and transfigured the overhead lamp into a beautiful chandelier. Perfect. The magic flowed easily and obeyed her every command, even though she hadn't spoken it out loud. It seemed that simple spells could be accomplished by concentration alone.
"To bestow such a gift, Maleficent must have grand plans for me," Tremaine remarked as she admired the lighting of the new chandelier.
"We all do," Ursula promised.
"Loki! Have you seen my son?" Amora the Enchantress asked as she approached the trickster god in the hallways.
Loki scoffed. "That entitled show pony you brought from the future? Should not his mother know better than I where to find him?"
Amora rolled her eyes. "My mistake. I had thought one entitled show pony could find another."
Amora turned around and started heading the other way.
"Perhaps I did see him at the House of Villains with a crowd of admirers," Loki finally said after a moment.
Amora nodded and headed that way. When she finally arrived at the bar area of the House of Villains, Ove had just ordered a round of drinks for the other villains. Trakeena, Sarah Sanderson, and Daken were hovering around him, all vying for Ove's attention. He seemed to practically revel in being desired by so many villains, both women and men.
"So there I was, face to face with Captain Marvel herself!" Ove narrated. "Her strength and energy output were cosmic and practically off the scales, but she was no match for me and my glorious power! I neutralized her quite handily and had her locked up in my dungeon for treason against New Atlantis!"
"A fate I'm sure she more than deserved," Daken said with a grin.
"Reminds me of the pesky Red Ranger!" Trakeena huffed as she tightened her grip on her drink so tight that she nearly shattered the glass.
Ove chuckled. "So then-"
"I'm afraid this story will have to wait," Amora interrupted. "Ove, my son, Maleficent wishes to see you at once, and it is not wise to keep the Mistress of All Evil waiting."
"Of course, mother," Ove said before quickly chugging his drink and tossing the empty glass aside, shattering it. "I suppose now I shall be off!"
Amora nodded. "Make me proud, my son!"
Baron Mordo tampered with the potions, crystal balls, and spellbooks sitting out on his workbench. Due to the fact that Mordo was not a true Overtaker, he hadn't been given his own chambers to work his spells, and so he made due with a tiny corner of one of Doctor Doom's several laboratories for his experiments. It was not the glamorous life of a sorcerer he'd had beforehand, but at the very least he was no longer trapped in Morgan Le Fay's necklace. That was certainly a positive.
"Anything to report?" Doom asked, startling Mordo by his sudden appearance.
Mordo quickly regained composure and pretended that he'd known Doom was behind him all along. "Ah, yes, by all magical means at my disposal, it appears that your efforts have indeed successfully trapped Dormammu back in the Dark Dimension," Mordo said. "He shouldn't be able to break free this time... at least not for a while."
"You speak as though Doom's competency was ever in question," Doom huffed, but secretly, he was quite glad to hear the confirmation of what he believed to be true.
"Was there... anything else, your majesty?" Mordo asked, certain that Doom hadn't come all the way here just for a status report.
"Yes," Doom nodded, "for I have had long discussions with Maleficent regarding you, and she and I have ultimately determined that your talents are wasted as a servant to Doom. After all, I am more than capable of accomplishing any magical feat I so desire. What need have I for your paltry talents?"
Mordo sneered at Doom's arrogance but held his tongue. After all, it seemed as though Doom was finally about to release Mordo from the leash he'd been on since his ill-advised attempt on Doom's life back at the Olympus Coliseum. True freedom at long last was a tantalizing treat that made even Baron Mordo swallow his pride... momentarily.
"I thank you, Lord Doom," Mordo nodded. "I look forward to pursuing my own goals again at long last!"
"All in due time," Doom put up his hand to indicate to Mordo that he should remain silent. "For now, Maleficent has a task for you. Think of it as a gesture of our good will, loosening the chains binding you to our control in order to test if the dog intends to run away."
"I see," Mordo nodded, less enthused by being compared to a dog but still intrigued by where this was going.
"Maleficent herself will explain the details further," Doom said. "For now, simply know that I release you from under my hegemony. You are still bound by loyalty to the Overtakers, but you are no longer a servant at my beck and call. But be warned: should you ever betray Doom again, I will make your time spent trapped in an amulet seem merciful."
"I understand, and I graciously thank you," Mordo said with a bow.
"Yes, as you should," Doom nodded. "Now go. Maleficent is not a woman to be kept waiting."
Lady Tremaine, Ove, and Baron Mordo arrived in the throne room at about the same time. Each regarded the others present with mild interest. Ove broke the silence with a boisterous laugh.
"Now what could Maleficent want with you two?" Ove asked. "She already summoned me, and there's simply nothing I cannot accomplish on my own."
"Oh please!" Mordo scoffed. "You really think you're anything compared to my mastery of the mystic arts? Keep dreaming, boy."
Ove's eyes sparked and green energy began to swirl around his fingertips. "I have the magic of the gods, little man. But I wouldn't expect a mortal to-"
"I have fought gods more powerful than you!" Mordo interrupted. "Your ego is the only thing overpowering about-"
"Enough! Both of you!" Tremaine snapped with such harshness in her voice as to cause Ove and Mordo to go silent immediately.
Tremaine's demeanor then shifted to a more gentle and poised tone. "It simply wouldn't do for us to squabble amongst ourselves. After all, none of us have been formally inducted into the Overtakers, but we all serve at their behest... for now. But I have a feeling that's about to change."
"You think we've been assembled so that Maleficent can formally induct us as members of her Overtakers?" Mordo asked.
"I certainly deserve the honor," Ove boasted. "I proved as much by taking care of Ursula's little problem with the Sharkanians."
"The prospect interests me," Mordo admitted, having never truly thought he'd ever be trusted with this honor. "Though I was told a task awaited me here."
"Perhaps a mission that suits all our talents," Tremaine suggested. "Now let me see... what could we all have in common?"
"I doubt I have anything in common with this old frumpy man," Ove scoffed as he gestured to Mordo.
"I feel compelled to point out that you and I came from the same world," Mordo said smugly. "We already have that much in common, at least."
"Yes, but I came from the future of your world," Ove corrected. "I hail from a time when your irrelevance was well established."
"A time you say?" Tremaine asked, a wry smile creeping onto her lips. "I think I'm beginning to get the picture."
Mordo furrowed his brow. "Wait... you think this is about time travel?"
"How very perceptive," Maleficent said as she appeared in the room amidst a flurry of flames, a large book situated under her arm.
Tremaine gave a quick bow, and the others followed suit. "Your excellency, I am at your service."
"And so you shall be," Maleficent said. "Yes, time travel is indeed of great concern to me. An artifact of great power has recently come into my possession due to the service of the three Fates. One of you three is already familiar with it."
Maleficent lifted up the book and held it out in front of her so that the three villains could all see it clearly. Tremaine and Ove shook their heads to indicate that they did not recognize it, but Mordo simply gaped at the cover of the book as he looked upon it. Memories came flooding back for the baron, memories he had long suppressed.
"As I live and breathe, the Book of Cagliostro!" Mordo whispered more to himself than anyone else. "I had thought it was lost after... after...."
Mordo swallowed hard. The last time he saw that book, Mordo and his adversary Doctor Strange had chased one another backwards through history, following along with a sorcerer from the distant future by the name of Sise-Neg. The future sorcerer had grown exponentially more powerful with every jump further back in time. When they'd finally arrived at the dawn of time itself, Sise-Neg grew so powerful that He became the Genesis of the universe itself. Mordo and Doctor Strange had quite literally witnessed God Himself creating all of existence through that book.
"Anyone care to fill us in?" Ove asked.
"The Book of Cagliostro is a tome with the power to transcend time," Maleficent explained. "It is unique in that it holds the power to alter the past without jeopardizing one's present existence."
"How interesting," Tremaine remarked. "Time travel without consequence I see."
"Without consequence is a bit of a misnomer," Mordo grumbled. "I've seen many things that I wish I hadn't thanks to that book."
"As you three are likely already aware, there are three different forms of time travel," Maleficent explained. "Transformative, or the power to alter one's past."
Maleficent gestured to Lady Tremaine, invoking the memory of Tremaine's attempt to unravel Cinderella's happily ever after. She'd plotted to change her own future by changing her past, and the changes would have led to a far different present if the Fairy Godmother hadn't put things back to the way they were before.
"Divergent, or the power to forge new branches in the multiverse independent from the future that one departs."
Maleficent turned her attention to Ove. He came to the past from an alternate future that the current timeline was not on track to create. It was simply another dimension that was better left forgotten as far as Ove was concerned. That future would only happen in that one specific timeline.
"And Fulfilling, or the power to fulfil the course of history by playing one's role in time."
She then landed on Mordo. His adventure with Doctor Strange and Sise-Neg had been that particular brand of time travel. Sise-Neg's movements through time were well documented by history, and the universe had already been created. However, Sise-Neg still had to travel back in time to fulfil his role in history as God so that all of existence could occur.
"The task I have for you will require all three and more," Maleficent said as she rapped her fingers on the cover of the book. "And thus I bestow the Book of Cagliostro upon you three. It shall be your guide in the journey ahead."
Maleficent held out the book in front of her, and Mordo cautiously took it into his hands. So this was why Doom had released him from his leash. Mordo was the only one familiar with the power of Cagliostro, and that experience was crucial to Maleficent's newest plan.
"What are we going to do?" Mordo asked.
"The power of the Overtakers is without equal," Maleficent declared. "And yet for all the conquests we have made, the heroes have thwarted my plans time and time again. I am no fool as to think the solution lies in the past. We in the present must continue to work towards our goals of universal domination! Yet the Book of Cagliostro offers a unique opportunity."
"Let me guess," Tremaine spoke up, "the present reality of the Overtakers will remain in place thanks to the book's power, secure from any unintended side effects. Meanwhile, the three of us can seek out solutions throughout time with impunity."
"Precisely," Maleficent nodded. "You three shall begin a new faction under the authority of the Overtakers, one that can move through time, collecting power of use to our cause and conquering the course of history itself!"
Ove grinned deviously. "Now you're starting to speak my language! I was born to be a king, and a king for all time I shall be!"
"You may operate at your own discretion," Maleficent stated, "as long as you do not forget the generous hand that granted you such power. Trust that I shall be keeping an eye on your efforts, and should I have any reason to doubt your loyalty... well, let us simply say that there will be nowhere in history where you can escape my wrath."
"I assure you, one instance of crossing the Overtakers was enough for one lifetime," Mordo swore. "I won't be repeating that ever again."
"See to it," Maleficent stated. "Now then, there is one other matter to which you three must attend. Xehanort's younger self is traversing the timestream. The captain and I encountered him recently. He presents a danger to our past, present, and future. You are to eliminate the threat at any cost. It is a matter of utmost importance."
"He will be dealt with," Tremaine promised. "I have no tolerance for children who think to undermine the rightful authority."
"Now go, and do not fail me!" Maleficent commanded as she vanished into a flurry of green fire.
Lady Tremaine and Ove huddled around Mordo as they all looked upon the Book of Cagliostro, their current task weighing on their minds.
"All three of our fates are now intertwined," Tremaine stated. "I trust you two will learn to cooperate amicably."
Ove and Mordo glanced at each other with disdain that soon gave over to begrudging acceptance.
"I will try," Mordo agreed.
"I suppose so," Ove conceded.
"Now then, I suppose we have a question to answer," Tremaine stated. "Where to begin?"
"I believe the first matter is finding a base of operations," Mordo suggested. "We need a safe return point for our travels where we can plan and strategize."
Tremaine gestured to the room around them. "We already have access to the Eminence Palace and the Overtaken Kingdom. We can simply return to the present."
"No, the old man is right," Ove said, earning a glare from Mordo. "We need to keep ourselves isolated from the present Overtakers, otherwise our movements could create a paradox... or worse. No, we need a safe point in history that we can always return to and a place to keep the Book of Cagliostro safe as we move through time."
"Yes, exactly," Mordo nodded. "Taking the book with us could be dangerous, after all. Our safe point should ideally be an uninhabited fortress we can defend easily that exists along the margins of the timestream."
A knowing smirk crept onto Tremaine's lips. "I believe I have the solution to that particular problem."
"Can you take us there?" Mordo asked as he opened the book to the proper incantation for movement through time.
Tremaine drew her wand and grinned haughtily. "Certainly."
Back before Sora's first journey, when Maleficent was on her quest to obtain the Seven Princesses of Hearts, countless worlds fell to darkness, erased from the night sky altogether. What remained of the worlds that were consumed by the Heartless made their way to the Realm of Darkness, where dark and twisted permutations of the worlds sat empty and desolate. Lady Tremaine's home world, The Castle of Dreams, met this fate.
The castle itself held together nicely, but it was just about the only building that did. The castle town was in shambles with debris floating in the air, creating roads and sculptures that defied the laws of ordinary physics. The bridge leading to the castle was once broken as well, but it had been rebuilt by Master Aqua during her time traversing the merciless terrain. The castle's clock tower sat unmoving, frozen at midnight, an hour that was once of great significance to this world.
Amidst a puff of green glittering light, Lady Tremaine, Baron Mordo, and Ove found themselves just outside the castle in this broken world.
"So this is the Realm of Darkness, hmm?" Ove asked as he looked around. "I've heard tales about it for years, but the picture crafted in imagination doesn't quite compare to seeing it in person."
"I first saw this place when moving backwards through time," Tremaine explained. "No one on our world had any memory of it falling to darkness or being reduced to this, and yet the timeline did not forget. The castle seemed to be mostly in tact even though it stands abandoned, making it the perfect place for us to call home."
"We'll need to be vigilant about using magic to protect ourselves from the darkness, but this should do nicely," Mordo agreed.
Tremaine took a step towards the castle and took a deep breath, allowing a euphoric rush of accomplishment to fill her mind. Tremaine had always dreamed that one of her two daughters would some day marry the prince and rule from this castle, taking care of her and pampering her with a life free of want. That dream never came to fruition, and yet here Tremaine stood, claiming the Castle of Dreams for her own. She smiled slightly at the implications.
"What should we call our fortress?" Ove asked. "The Realm of Darkness is too broad, and the Castle of Dreams is far too precious for my tastes."
As the three villains opened the large doors and proceeded into the castle foyer, Tremaine glanced out at the desolate town and then back up at the clock tower. An idea struck her immediately.
"Midnight's Devastation," Tremaine announced. "That shall be the name of our fortress."
Ove chuckled as he closed the doors behind them. "I like the sound of that! I look forward to leading our team from the throne of Midnight's Devastation."
"You? Lead us?" Tremaine asked. "What absurdity! You're an impetuous braggart, unfit to lead a delicate operation such as this. My poise, grace, and, above all, self control are what a true leader requires."
"You're also the most inexperienced magic user of the three of us," Mordo pointed out as he summoned up a podium and set the Book of Cagliostro gently atop it. "Our leader should be a true Master of the Mystic Arts! One whose powers can ensure our mission remains successful, namely me."
"You think you fit that qualification?" Ove asked. "HA! You're a second rate old magician! I, on the other hand, am a demigod with the lineage of a king! The divine right to rule is part of my very bone marrow!"
Mordo sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "We're not going to get anywhere squabbling like this, but our faction will need one leader to look to. That much is certain."
"How do you propose we decide?" Tremaine asked.
Mordo held out his hand, and three identical stones appeared. Two of the stones turned black, and one turned white. Mordo pulled a black velvet bag out of his pocket and placed the three stones into the bag.
"We'll draw for it," Mordo said as he shook up the bag. "Whosoever draws the white rock will be the leader. But we must all swear by the Book of Cagliostro to accept the results of this drawing and not to use magic to overturn the Fates' decision."
All three villains placed a hand on the cover of the Book of Cagliostro.
"We swear it," they said in unison, and the book began to glow in recognition of their vow.
Without looking, each of them drew a rock from the bag and held it tightly in their hand, not revealing the color to anyone, not even themselves.
"Three, two, one," Mordo counted down. "Reveal!"
Everyone opened their hands. Ove and Mordo's faces fell when they saw the black stones in their hands, and Lady Tremaine beamed with pride as she held up the white stone triumphantly.
"It appears I will be taking command of this operation!" Tremaine said, laughing lightly in triumph behind a closed mouth.
"Fine," Ove huffed, hurling his stone across the room and crossing his arms in a pouting manner.
"Let us hope your inexperience doesn't get the rest of us killed," Mordo said as he vanished the stones back into oblivion.
"Now then, as leader, first things must come first," Tremaine declared as she took out the wand and began to slap it gently against her palm. "None of us have been formally granted the rank of Overtaker. In fact, Maleficent said we are to be our own faction. It simply will not do to call ourselves Overtakers moving forward."
"Is this really necessary?" Mordo asked with a sigh.
"Our enemies must know who to fear, and our prospective allies should know the banner they are to carry," Tremaine answered. "Now is the best time to determine our name. Now, let me see..."
Tremaine thought about it a moment. They were effectively the time traveling equivalent of the Overtakers. Perhaps a bit of a riff on their parent faction would be appropriate, yet distinct enough so as to not be mistaken. Their movements through time would allow them to traverse across generations... across eras even! Yes, that would do nicely.
"Gentlemen, I have made my decision," Tremaine declared. "From this moment forward, we shall be known as the Era Breakers."