A.N. I re-uploaded this because I changed Bae's age from seven to twelve. Just a little head's up.

Chapter 1: An Introduction, Nothing More, Nothing Less

Rumplestiltskin:

The village was abuzz with the good news: the wars had ended! Much rejoicing was to be done. Rumplestiltskin hurried back to his small hut where him and his boy lived. His boy, who would never have to know what horrible things war did to people. His precious boy who could continue to be a twelve year old child, innocent of the world.

Moraine, the neighbor's girl, had beat him to it. Bae was already awake and jumping for joy along with the girl. Rumplestiltskin watched the two, completely content. Even if he was hated in the village for avoiding the draft, the neighbor's girl refused to stay away from his son. For that, Rumplestiltskin was even more blessed. His son was granted the pleasure of having a friend through it all.

"Papa! The war's over! And Moraine said the Lord bought a new creation!" Bae told his father excitedly. This was the first Rumplestiltskin had heard of any new creation.

"What is this creation you speak of?" Rumplestiltskin asked the girl curiously. She smiled wide.

"My Papa called it a telephone. He went to see the Lord to sell him meat. He said the Lord's house is full of tech…tech…" the girl drifted off, trying her best to remember the word.

"Technology, my dear," Rumplestiltskin offered. The girl nodded brightly at his words.

He sighed as the two ran out of the house to play. Of course the Lord had all the technology, especially since the war was over. He had heard stories for years of how the rich had this technology, something akin to magic but more reliable. Much more reliable. It was because of this technology that magic died.

Rumplestiltskin sighed. He was glad to be away from technology. Out here, in this small village, his son lived off of imagination. He had heard many horror stories of children from the cities who became hooked to technology machines and did nothing but stare at a colored glass box all day. Here, his son could truly think, truly be himself.

Belle:

The sun was slowly beginning to rise as she finished her last night of work. Finally, after five years of working every night, Belle had finished her debt. Her debt to Regina was paid, and Belle could finally become something more than a whore.

Regina's house loomed in front of Belle as she checked her pocket once more for last night's money. It was still there. Regina's portion of the money was the last Belle needed to pay. Despite her exhaustion, Belle could barely hide her excitement.

She entered the house quietly, as she had been taught to do. The twenty-two year old made her way silently to Regina's business room. As she knocked quietly, Belle tried to imagine her life. What would she do? Who would she be? It didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was going to be free to choose.

"Come in," Regina's voice called softly. Regina's son, Henry, must still be asleep. In the five years Belle had been working for Regina, she had seen Henry often. She had even gone out of her way to volunteer to babysit the ten year old boy whenever Regina had business elsewhere, babysitting for free just to spend time with the sweet child. Ever since learning she would never have children, Belle had had a soft spot in her heart for children.

"I have the last of your money," Belle said softly as she approached Regina. Regina glanced up, shocked.

"Five years sure flew by in no time," Regina muttered, irritated. Belle tilted her head.

"I paid you my debt, both in time and in money," Belle stated softly, hoping not to sound too forceful. Regina held too much power to become hard enemies. Regina stared at the young girl.

"So you have. However, you have brought me in more money in the last five years than any girl I have ever had. Your…services…are the most sought after, I've discovered. Why, it would be completely crazy for me to let you go," Regina said with a laugh. Belle's throat nearly swelled shut at her words.

"But…we had a deal," Belle argued quietly. Regina laughed once more.

"Of course we did. And because of that deal, I can do nothing to force you to stay. However, it did not say that I couldn't prevent you from working anywhere else," Regina taunted. Belle's heart sank at the words.

"If you leave, I will put it out that you are to never be hired or trusted. Anyone with enough power to hire you will know you are unworthy and not hire you," Regina told the girl with an air of confidence.

"What about those too poor to have access to technology?" Belle asked, the question mainly being focused towards herself instead of Regina. Regina shook her head.

"My dear, anyone too poor to have access to technology is too poor to hire you. Plus, I must say that if you were to ever leave this city and appear in another city, I would have to report you to be dangerous," Regina threatened lightly. Belle's mind fluttered over the details of the contract. Her photographic mind tended to be mighty helpful in this instance.

"The contract said you did not have the rights to order me be killed, unless I left my post early," Belle finally said. Regina frowned as she realized the girl had caught one of the few misprints.

"No. I cannot. However, I can kill anyone you get close to. Remember that, my dear. Anyone you get close to, I can order to be killed. Now, I'll give you three days to consider my offer. You'll get 60 percent of what you make if you agree to work for me instead of the 40 percent you receive now. Does that sound fair?" Regina asked.

Belle's mind was spinning. Three days? She couldn't work for Regina anymore. But she also knew she couldn't flat out say that. She had three days to get away.

"I'll consider it. Thank you for being so kind," Belle said. She started to leave but stopped. She turned around, a small smile on her face.

"I bought Henry a present. With my part of the money, mind you. Would you make sure he gets it?" Belle asked. Regina's eyes lit up at the thought of a present for Henry. Belle had to admit, as much as she hated Regina, Regina truly loved her son. With Regina's nod, Belle pulled the old book she had found in an antique shop out of her bag and set it down in front of Regina.

"I know it's old and on paper, but I know that when I was younger, I would have given anything for a real book. Maybe Henry will enjoy it a bit too," Belle explained. As much as Regina hated books, Belle knew she wouldn't keep the book from Henry. With a simple goodbye, Belle headed off to her apartment.

Her apartment was a two room place, one of the rooms being the bathroom and the other the living room. She had little but saw no need for much. She rushed into the room and grabbed her late mother's old backpack. It was worn, but they didn't make backpacks like they used to. This backpack was strong and would withstand time, whilst the new ones lasted a few months at best.

She packed all of her most practical belongings and the things she felt she couldn't live without into the satchel, tying it closed as she did. She then took a much needed shower to scrub the last two men off of her skin before changing into clean clothes. She took what little savings she had and left, stealing into the new day and into the woods.

As she left, she heard a TV reporter speaking of how the wars had ended the day before. She smiled wryly at the thought. Today was a day of freedom for more than just her.

Rumplestiltskin:

The war had been over for three weeks. Three weeks and Rumpstiltskin was getting enough orders to keep him busy spinning and mending for the longest time. All of the men had returned home. While this was good for his business, it was bad for him. Everyone sneered down on him, taking pleasure in tripping him when they could.

It was during this time Bae asked, as he did quite frequently, what happened to his Papa's leg. As he usually did, he lied. He lied about stumbling down a hill. The story was always different and each time Bae didn't believe him, but it was better than the truth.

It was better than telling his son that, when the draft came, he used the excuse of his newly married wife and newborn son as an excuse not to go. How, when his wife learned of it, she left him and divorced him. How, when the townspeople learned of it, they broke his leg and permanently damaged it to give him a real reason for not going.

He couldn't tell his son of his cowardice. He just couldn't. His son was all he had. So he grinned and bore it, spinning and mending clothing all day for the lowest pay people would give him, all for his son.

It was on such a day that he was on his way back to the hut he lived in when he spotted someone in the woods. He had just dropped off the last orders and Bae was playing at Moraine's house. He dropped off the new orders he had inside the hut and hobbled as fast as he could to the edge of the woods.

It was a girl, he noticed as he got closer. A girl, who was leaning against a tree heavily as her eyes hazily flickered across everything.

"Hello! Are you looking for the village? Because it's right along this road, a few minutes' walk," Rumplestiltskin informed the girl. He would have offered to take her there as well, but no one wanted to be seen with the village coward, especially not someone new in town. The girl didn't answer him, causing Rumplestiltskin to glance up at her. She looked almost feverish for a moment but when she noticed him staring at her, she snapped out of it.

"Does this town have…technology?" she asked cautiously. Rumplestiltskin started to shake his head but hesitated as well.

"Our Lord has technology. And a few of the richest have it as well. Why?" Rumplestiltskin asked the girl. His words seemed to bring the girl near tears.

"Why don't you come back to my house and get some rest? Then you can decide what you want to do. You look downright exhausted," Rumplestiltskin offered. The girl's head jerked up at his words. She stared at him, shocked.

"You would let me stay at your house and rest?" she asked, her words unbelieving. Rumplestiltskin nodded, unsure of why it would be such a big deal.

"I have work to do, so you resting wouldn't interfere with me resting. And you look like you could use some good rest," he said. He offered his arm that wasn't holding his walking stick to her and the girl stared at it, unsure.

When it didn't seem like she was going to, he shrugged and beckoned for her to follow him. He realized, as they were walking, that she hadn't mentioned her name. Neither had he, for that matter. Her clothes, he noticed with a wry glance, were filthy but made of material he hadn't seen since his one visit to a city as a child. City clothing. She was from a city.

"My name is Rumplestiltskin," Rumplestiltskin finally introduced as he led her to his hut. The girl glanced at the hut, confused once more, but followed him inside.

"I'm Belle."

1234567909876543212345678909 8765432123456789098765432123 4567898765432123456789

I hope y'all liked that. This was an idea I have had in my head all day and had to get it out. I don't know how often I will update, but for now, here this is. I am going to try to get chapter two out soon so you all can see what's going on.

A few notices, for those of you who may be confused. This is just like Fairytale Land, except without magic and with cities as well. Imagine the great expanses of Fairytale Land with cities. And imagine if technology had all came at once, instead of gradual. Only the rich have it and the city people are exposed to it. Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Andiya Rose