"Your lying!" was all that boomed though the DarkOne's head, then the menacing yet beautiful voice of her, the woman he couldn't and refused to acknowledge that could have been…his daughter, the evil Queen. Gods, did Cora give that evil, miserable girl the appropriate name…

"Am I?" The way she smiled when she said it. He wanted to smack that smirk off Regina's face.

For some unknown reason, he could never hurt her. Wanted to kill her, rid of her, but he could never do it.

All he could here echo in his head were his and her statements, "You're lying" and "Am I"?

He needed to investigate this. "It didn't make sense" he wondered. "If Belle conspired with the Queen, then why would that Wretch come her and tell me Belle was driven to suicide in her own home? Could I have mis thought this situation…and after I sift through this mess…could she still be alive and need a home? What have I done? No wonder she seemed angry with me when I told her to go. I need to do something…"

Within the next hour he prepared for his journey. "Here goes it", he said as he looked into the mirror before leaving. A tall, younger, handsome man appeared in the mirror with dark hair and eyes on pallet of pale skin in a royal soldier's uniform. Rumple decided to transform into Gaston. That way he could truly find out what happened of his beloved Belle. The king would divulge more information to him, verus his true from.

He stood before a pair of bewildered guards.

"Sir Gaston! Where have you been! We thought you were dead!"

"The monster kept me locked up! He rid of her before me…the things I saw him do to her! I am here for Belle! I don't have time for this foolishness! Let me pass! I have tales of victories to tell…and to collect my woman!"

As curious as the guards were, they complied and opened the doors.

Gaston continued further into the halls until he met a somber Maurice sitting in the chair.

"Your grace, I am here. I slayed the Dark One, but where is Belle?" Maurice looked up at Gaston in shock.

"I thought you were-"

"No Sir, I am alive. I survived. Tell me, please, where is my betrothed?"

"She's not here my boy…I was hoping she'd be with you. As I can see you were defeated."

"But I killed the Dark One! Where would she be! I saw her being confronted by the monster! He told her to leave!"

"Why would he do that, he wanted nothing but her" Maurice said. He was so confused at the moment to where he couldn't comprehend anything.

"Because…he probably lusted after her, any monster would after a damsel as she! However! She suddenly took a whole entire turn and couldn't resist him! I seen it My Grace! He kept us in the dungeon! Sometimes he kept her in a bedroom fit for a queen…yet it was locked on the outside. He woud go in there and I'd hear them…making love I'd believe!" Maurice did his best to prevent the tears pooling in his eyes.

"He did that to my sweet, lovely, kind, and innocent daughter? NO!" He furiously bellowed words of denial repeatedly until he rose up.

"He did Sir…and sometimes-" Maurice dreaded it, but he needed to know.

"Yes?"

"When the monster let me wander for a limited time," I'd stumble upon them in certain places…and they appeared to have moment's together. As if they truly loved one another! That alone fueled my bloodlust to kill him! He placed her under a love spell! He had to!"

"We need to find her! Please Gaston…go! Take what you need! I'm happy youv'e returned…but please take what you need and go find my daughter! There is no time to waste! Come back with her. If you'd still be so kind to marry her? No one will touch her knowing she did such things with that monster!"

Gaston Bowed. "Of course, my King!"

Shaking in his chair, Maurice watched Gaston turn around and leave. That was the last time he saw the Imposter Gaston.