One by One
Written by: Adventure-Seeking-Juliet
When: Listening to Ghost by Fefe Dobson. I highly recommend this song.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time.
A/N Regina manipulates Belle into learning dark magic by turning her against Rumpelstiltskin. My Rumbelle ideas had been running dry...then all the sudden this wonderful little idea popped into my head. I hope you enjoy it~
Chapter One:
"The captor asked me to bring you this," Regina held the red rose out to Belle, who was curled up in the corner of her stone prison, shivering.
Regina took a seat next to Belle on the floor and held the flower out to her.
Belle's mouth was set in a grim line," Why did he send you to give me this?"
Regina shrugged," I don't think he can face you. He's too much of a coward, you know that."
Belle nodded as she took the rose from Regina.
The older woman had been Belle's only friend since leaving the Dark Castle. Belle had never made it home to her father...she had been attacked after leaving a pub one night.
When she awoke, Belle had found herself trapped in a stone cell, cold and alone. Regina had brought her a tray of food and a change of clothing the next morning.
At first, Belle had been furious at Regina. She had thought she was the one keeping her captive...the evil queen who Rumpelstiltskin had been talking about...
But Regina had quickly told Belle the truth. She was a servant to Rumpelstiltskin, charged with keeping his prisoners clean and fed...and just like Belle, she was trapped.
The two had become fast friends after that.
Belle angrily swiped at a tear that had slipped from her eye," I don't understand why he would do this. He already took my freedom. Why must he torture me with this silly flower?"
Regina placed a hand on Belle's shoulder," Why does the flower mean so much to you?"
"He gave me a rose once..." Belle replied, trying desperately to stop the tears that were carving tracks down her cheeks.
"Oh, Belle," Regina pulled the crying girl into her arms," I'm so sorry he's doing this to you."
Belle sniffed, wiping away her tears," I'll be fine, Regina."
She pulled away from the other woman, cradling the red rose in her palms," I'm very lucky I have a friend as caring as you in this terrible place."
Regina smiled at her," And I am lucky to have met someone as kind as you, Belle. I only wish there was some way I could stop that beast from being so cruel to you..."
Belle patted her new friend on the hand," It's fine. I know there's nothing you can do. I'll just have to deal with it myself."
Belle squared her shoulders and climbed to her feet, pulling Regina with her," You must hurry- he'll be unhappy if he discovers you've been speaking to me."
Regina sighed, looking defeated," I will find a way to help you, Belle. I hate watching friends suffer."
The older woman slowly walked toward the door, her back turned on her new best friend.
There was a gruesome smirk stretched across her face.
She was nearly to the door, when she turned back, intending to milk her new charade to the bitter end.
"I know what I can do! Belle, I can-" She lowered her voice," teach you how to use magic."
"Magic?" Belle said," How could that help me escape? You can perform magic and you're still here..."
Regina sighed," I am different from you, Belle. I am trapped here because of my magic. I made one deal too many with the Dark One. You are different! You still have a chance to escape."
"What would I have to learn?" Belle asked, looking curious.
And hopeful.
"Just enough to help you escape," Regina replied, adamant," Please let me do this! It just wouldn't be right if I didn't try to help you."
"So you would risk your life...for me?" Belle's blue eyes were bright, glowing at the thought of her impending escape.
Regina smiled," What are friends for?"
With that, she walked out of the cell, and the smile faded from her face.
Belle sat back down, holding the rose tightly in her small hands.
She pulled the petals off, one by one.
Belle had grown accustomed to receiving a red rose once a week.
Belle had received a red rose every Monday since she had found herself in the new prison.
She knew that he must still be her captor, even in this new world.
But it was far worse than it had been before. There was no magic in the white room...so Belle could never escape.
And Regina no longer came into her cell for long visits. She no longer taught her about the properties of magic.
She only stopped by to bring Belle the roses. She never spoke...she just smiled.
Belle knew Rumpelstiltskin had to be behind it. Who else could make time stand still for decades?
Her only question was why...why would the great and powerful Rumpelstiltskin want to make time stand still?
Belle could only imagine that it was some new form of torture designed specifically for her, his true love.
She rolled her eyes at the thought and scuffled over to the rose lying on the floor of her cell.
Time had once again started to move, and Belle could feel tiny trickles of magic floating around. Soon, she would be free.
Belle grinned.
The beast would be the first to know just how free she planned to be. She gripped the delicate flower tightly, laughing to herself.
She pulled the petals off, one by one.
A/N Do not fret, all will be explained in the coming chapters! I'm sorry if I confused you...please review? If you know what I mean.
If you would like to prompt me, please private message me your prompt or leave it in a review! I'll take anything from summaries, to songs, to pictures, to short phrases.