Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time. It is the property of its' (undeserving) creators and companies.
Forward: This series extends a fic I had once planned but never got around to writing in its' entirety. In light of the dismissal of Swan Queen and Swens by A&E, I decided to go back to where it all went wrong and correct things, as well as changing up the plots in what I hope will be new and compelling ways.
Chapter One: Dark Retribution
As Rumplestiltskin returned home with his True Love, his mind and heart were both writhing in anguish. He wanted...needed to finish what he started with Zelena. He needed blood and vengeance for what she did to him, to Bae. But so long as Belle held the Dagger, such desires were impossible. Regina had decided that her mad half-sister would not be executed, and as such commanded Belle to keep the Dark One in check. For all his power, Rumple was still a slave to the weapon that bore his name.
He toyed with the idea of switching the Dagger with a fake, a tactic his father once called, "follow the lady". But no, that could only lead to trouble. Besides, if he meant to do right by Belle and be the man she fell in love with, he would have to rebuild the trust that had frayed after so many lies and deceptions.
And more frightening, he might have to allow himself to be vulnerable.
Perhaps a part of him was still the same cowardly spinner that was tricked by Zoso all those years ago. Rumple had been the Dark One for so long that the idea of revealing his inner feelings, his doubts and fears, was almost alien. His pride railed against the thought, his ego demanding no weakness. Ultimately, his heart won out. He had lost his son many times because he chose to be the Dark One instead of a father. He'd nearly lost Belle in a similar fashion. No more. It was time for a real change.
So now he stood before the woman he loved in their bedroom, hands trembling as he gripped his cane, "Belle...there's something I need to say." His voice was steady, but the thick tone belied how close he was to cracking.
The librarian's brow furrowed, "Rumple, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"
The pawnbroker took a very deep breath, "There is something you don't know...something no one knows, and I'd rather you kept secret once I tell you."
Belle could only nod in confusion, "Of course, you can tell me anything."
Oh how he hoped that was true, "It's about Zelena. And...it's about what happened while she held me prisoner." Now the tremors spread up Rumple's arms to his shoulders, "You already know the things she forced me to do to the people of the town. But what you don't know is…the other uses she had for me." The Dark One paused, recognizing the signs of his beloved's mind working to decipher his words.
As the implication dawned on her, Belle's eyes widened, "You...you don't mean she..."
But Rumple could only give a melancholy nod, "A long time ago, before I began influencing Regina to cast the Dark Curse, I selected Zelena as my apprentice. She had talent, and a lot of power. But she fell in love with me." Tears began to well up in his eyes, "I rejected her of course. I couldn't risk her using my heart to cast the Curse. She didn't take it well. And now...when she had the Dagger, she had unfettered control of me. She could force me to do...anything..." A strangled sob tore it's way from the former spinner's throat as this final shame was brought to light.
Through watery eyes Rumple watched Belle's reaction. He honestly didn't know what to expect. Disgust, that the man she loved was so weak as to allow a demented witch to violate him? Pity, that such a fate had befallen the great Dark One? It was his great shock however, when Belle's face morphed into a mask of unbridled fury.
-Brave and Brittle-
Belle French considered herself a hero. Well, perhaps not so great a hero as Emma Swan or Prince Charming. But she at least was certain she was a good person. She knew right, she knew wrong, and she knew the lines that one could not cross. But now she forgot all of those concepts as she was faced with a horror she'd never dreamed possible. She'd agreed to keep Rumple from killing the Wicked Witch because she feared that it would cause him to backslide as he did before. And she wanted her True Love back, not the power hungry fiend that was the Dark One at the height of his evil ways. But this revelation, that a twisted woman could...could rape the man Belle loved with all her heart and escape justice...
No.
Belle clenched her hands into fists. To hell with right and wrong. To hell with the world existing in black and white alone. If Zelena lived it meant she could try for the Dagger again. Logically Belle knew she was not capable of protecting the talisman of the Dark One. She had no magic, she was no fighter. The weapon would be safer in Rumple's hands. Of course the moment Rumple had total control of himself it was probable he would visit his wrath on the imprisoned villain, but Belle failed to see the problem. That woman had hurt Rumple, had abused him in so vile a fashion that it left him broken inside. And Belle wanted nothing more than to chase that pain away. She wanted her lover to be whole and at peace. If Zelena's death was the price for that, so be it. Perhaps that made Belle a bad person, but in this case she couldn't bring herself to care.
Without another word Belle stalked over to a locked cupboard in the corner of the room. Drawing a small key from her pocket, she unlocked the door and opened it. Within lay the Dagger, the metaphysical shackle of the Dark One. Belle felt sick to her stomach when she realized she had held Rumple in thrall the same as the Witch did. No one should control him ever again. Taking the blade from the shelf she returned to where Rumple stood weeping. Blue eyes met brown as she held the weapon out to him, handle first, "Do what you have to...and then come home to me."
The look of shock was punctuated by a soft gasp. Rumple raised a shaking hand to take the Dagger from her. Taking a deep breath, the Dark One nodded to Belle, "Thank you..." In a cloud of scarlet smoke, Rumplestiltskin was gone. Wrapping her arms around herself, Belle collapsed onto the nearby bed. Her body was wracked with sobs as she grieved for the pain Rumple had suffered.
-Brave and Brittle-
The Wicked Witch of the West sat on the jail cell cot brooding. Her worthless sister had her pendant, leaving the redhead powerless. And worse, the former Evil Queen could apparently use white magic now. Zelena scowled, cursing her younger sibling. Regina couldn't keep her locked up forever. She would reclaim her pendant and have her revenge. Or perhaps she'd kill Rumple this time and become the Dark One herself. Now that Zelena had punished his rejection she had no more use for Rumplestiltskin. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps, "Regina. I didn't expect you back so soon."
"I don't imagine you expected me at all, dearie."
Speak of the devil. Zelena turned to face her old master, "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" retorted the Dark One.
"You can't kill me Rumple," Zelena's tone was mocking, "I saw Regina take your Dagger."
The man on the other side of the bars gave a contemplative nod, "She gave it to Belle."
The Witch's mouth curled into a confident smirk, "And she wants me dead?"
However smug Zelena's expression was, it paled in comparison to the supercilious leer that Rumple gave in return, "You have no idea." From behind his back he revealed the Dark One's Dagger, "I'd wager to say that right now, it's her fondest wish."
Zelena's smile faltered as her eyes widened, and with a frantic move she scrambled to her feet to get as far from Rumple as possible. It couldn't be. That bookworm put the Dagger back into the Dark One's hands? It had to be a trick, a forgery to scare her. But the old sorcerers' next words murdered that hopeful notion, "You see...there's something that happens when you fall in love. I mean really find the one meant for you. I don't imagine you would understand it. After all," Rumple sneered at the woman, "You've never felt love a day in your life. But when you love someone...truly love them...you can tell them anything. You can lay bare your deepest truths, and never fear that they will judge you."
The Wicked Witch was shocked. Rumplestiltskin, the invincible Dark One, had admitted to his little wench that Zelena had used him sexually? It was as if the world had been turned upside down. She had no time to ponder this new reality as Rumple continued his tirade, "Belle knows what you did. And she wants you to pay for it. And as for me...I would never deny my lady's wishes."
Zelena blinked, and found that Rumple was in her cell, "Wait..." She begin to back away until her back hit the wall, "Wait...I'm powerless now." Rumple's smirk only grew as he took a step towards her, "R-Regina's got my pendant..." Zelena begged, "My magic's gone! I can't hurt anyone!" But the Dark One just kept moving ever closer, "I can't...why?" The Witch's words were nearly a whisper.
Rumple's eyes narrowed, "If you can ask me that...you truly are mad." Quicker than thought the vengeful Dark One seized Zelena by her throat, slamming her against the brick of the cell wall. Forcing Zelena to face him, Rumple glared, "You sought to control something you couldn't possibly fathom. And now..." his eyes became two obsidian orbs and when next he spoke, it was with a hellish voice no human could ever possess, "It will punish for it."
Then the screaming began.
-Brave and Brittle-