Cinderella came from humble beginnings as a trod-upon step-daughter. But her fate changed when, the night of the big palace ball, a fairy godmother appeared. Then she was suddenly killed. But Rumplestiltskin took her place, offering Cinderella a chance at a new life in exchange for her first-born child. Cinderella agreed and, like magic, she was ready for the ball and won the heart of Prince Thomas. When she and Thomas were wed, she became pregnant, and the time came to give Rumplestiltskin his fee. But Cinderella couldn’t go through with the bargain, instead using a trick to trap Rumplestiltskin. But The Dark One seemed to go along with the plot, wanting to be captured, yet still he made sure Prince Thomas disappeared until she gave her baby over to him.