A/N: Hello! This is my first Red Beauty story~ I hope you like it, please review!
Even though Rumple was the Dark One, and unbelievably obsessed with power, Belle still saw the good in him and it amazed everyone who had ever encountered the man. She had sacrificed much to remain his; losing friends, her home, her family, most importantly her father, and now she was losing hope.
Regina had imprisoned her for 28 years, and although she knew Rumple didn't think she was alive, if she didn't love him she wouldn't have been there. Also, Rumple did try to kill her in the aftermath, almost immediately following Belle's plea not to, and the wraith risked Emma and Snow's lives. And this was all in one week. Belle did love Rumple, but with each day it became harder and harder to see the good in a man who, according to an ancient book, lacked the ability to love.
But no matter how difficult things had been, it was different now. There were no more persistent threats on the citizens of Storybrooke, and Rumple cut all ties with making deals and he still used magic, but for little things like cleaning or summoning roses for her. So Belle smiled and loved him, secretly still wishing that if she asked him if he could only have her, or his power, that he would choose her. But even she knew that was asking for disappointment.
So when he gave her the dagger, engraved with his name, she realized she could still love him. He had so much faith in her and she was wrong to doubt their love. Belle scolded herself and had high hopes for their future- hopes that fell apart in one night.
Red, Snow, Aroura, Mulan, Cinderella, and Belle were all at The Rabbit Hole having a girl's night. Snow and Cinderella were gushing over their babies and Aroura and Mulan were really close, talking about something private. So girl's night turned into Belle and Red laughing together, or at Snow and her obsession with every possible scenario that baby Neal could get himself into.
By the time the new mother's had to leave, Aroura and Mulan were also on their way out, with a pair of flushed faces and guilty eyes Red noticed. But before Red could follow, she spotted Rumple. She still preferred to call him Gold, because she knew him better in this world than their last. Belle smiled, and Red's heart dropped.
"He said he would pick me up tonight, perfect timing!" Red simply nodded and was about to avoid being a third wheel, when a very intoxicated Whale appeared, oblivious to the man behind him.
"Heyy B-Belle? Or is it Lacey… I always li-ked her better, she knew how to show off her amazzzzin' body…" Red didn't like the way he spoke about Belle, she was close to telling him off but Belle seemed unfazed. She still decided to step between Whale and her friend, just in case.
"Just like Ruby Red over hhhere, whadya say ladies? Want to show me y-"
Before he could finish his repulsive sentence, Gold used his cane and hit him across the back, causing him to fall to his knees, and then proceeded to force his knee into the doctors nose, resulting in a crack loud enough to hear over the music and chatter of the bar- which silenced immediately. There was a Ke$ha song playing, and only the dull lyrics were heard over Whale's grunt of "Oh fuck."
Rumple went to grab Whale again, and that's when chaos erupted. Everyone simultaneously tried to run out of the bar, knowing how dangerous this could get, and Belle began screaming above the noise at Rumple. But he either couldn't hear or didn't listen. He held the doctor by the collar of his shirt against the bar, and smashed his head into a half empty whiskey glass. Belle knew she had to act quickly, and just then she felt the cool metal of the dagger against her side through her purse.
Without hesitation, she pulled it out. She had never used it before, but she had seen and read about it. Belle held up the dagger and screamed "Stop!" But as Rumple started to punch Whales gut, Belle continued. "Dark One I command you! Stop! Right now!" There were three more blows, and Belle began to cry.
The noise had gone down, there were only a few left in the bar who were too drunk, stupid, or scared to move. Belle looked up at Red, who remained between her and the brawl, with broken blue eyes. "It's fake" she whispered. Her sorrow was put on hold as there was a loud cough- from Whale. Red saw blood sputtering from his lips, painting his clothes in crimson freckles. "She said stop you asshole!" Red charged at Gold, but the second she placed a hand on his arm, he swung.
The cane impacted the side of Red's face, just below her eye. He hit so hard, she couldn't feel it at first, but then two things happened; Red fell to the ground as she began to black out, and Belle charged forward with the dagger.