Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-5895297-20131019194655/@comment-22525977-20131028064115

OH OF COURSE HOW SILLY OF ME

see, Marian didn't die in childbirth. Roland was secretly the antichrist or whatever the fairytale equivalent thereof, and she realized this and because she loved the little monsterfetus so much, she made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin behind Robin's back to transfer the eeeeeevil onto her so Roland could have a good, innocent life frolicking with his True Love!

this had the unfortunate side effect of turning her eeeeevil and giving her magic powers and making her want to change her name to Regina—it's more befitting a power hungry demonspawn, you know—so when Roland was born she faked the dead and killed the daughter of Cora Mills so she could steal her identity.

Makes perfect sense.