Soooo...I am sorely addicted to 'Once Upon a Time.' With a friggin' vengeance. I especially love Belle and Rumple, since they're so perfect together.
Wrote this in a particularly boring class on contemporary theatre. :) Enjoy! It only takes two minutes to read. Literally.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Once Upon a Time,' though I'd be happy to own Rumbelle. I do own the other character mentioned in this one-shot. This is my first published fanfic, so please be nice!
From Regina's point of view (most of the time).
A Rotten Apple - A 'Once Upon a Time' Short Story
The reunion was inevitable. She'd always known that.
But the look in his eyes had frightened her with their darkness when he'd come to her later that day. She also knew he would say 'please,' so she let it slide. After all, the girl would never remember; watching the struggle would be fun in itself.
He was old and the girl was young. She was poor and he was rich. She'd made a deal with him; if he cleared her father's debts, she would work in his shop. Besides, the place was filthy, and he couldn't get around as well as he once could, or so he told her. She thought he was lonely. A conversation here, a conversation there...And she watched on in horror.
They fell in love with one another. Again. Regardless of the circumstances.
And yet they did nothing about it, told no one, regardless of how obvious it was to her. So she told the girl what he had done. Just for a bit of fun, of course.
When she'd found out, she said nothing, waiting for his explanation. His refusal to regret it made her furious, especially when she found out what had been stolen. She didn't understand it, and she didn't go back to work for nearly a week. He missed her more than the first time she'd left.
She thinks about many things, especially the nightmares she had in her cell. He thinks about a few things, particularly the way her smile lightens up his day.
When she returns, it is on a damp, cold night. He lets her into his home against his better judgment. When she asks to see the object, he cannot refuse her. She runs her thumb against the chip, its sharp edge slicing her skin. She drops it in surprise and they both watch as it shatters on the floor…Much like their resolve.
She stays the night.
When she sees them holding hands the next day, she feels the sadness begin churning, but quickly crushes it into anger. The girl had forgiven him, completely and utterly. She would never understand it.
She will destroy their new smiles with fresh tears.
When the curse is broken and beast and beauty are reunited, memories and all, she takes the thing they love most; their Emmabelle with the magic hair.
She calls her 'Rose,' and makes her own happy ending in a tower where the girl grows up, loving no one but her.
Every year, on their daughter's birthday, the beauty and her beast release lanterns into the sky in the hopes of finding their Emmabelle.
Their Rose with the magic hair.
And one day, the girl followed the lanterns back to the castle...
Fin
Review! I have plans for Emmabelle, though this is a one-shot. Let me know if you think I should continue this story! It will still fight for the Rumbelle war, I can promise you that! 3