Although I may use some quotes from episodes, no copyright infringement is intended. I do not own "Once Upon a Time."
Ms. French's Pawn Shop
The Enchanted Forest, Twenty-eight years ago . . . . .
Rumpelstiltskin paced furiously in his cage, watching a small rat wander on the ground. He smiled gleefully as black smoke appeared, and the rodent morphed into a woman. "Well, look at you. Caged up like the animal you are. If only your little maid could see you now," Regina said, and he lunged toward her, reaching his hand out as Regina backed away.
"If you harm one hair on her head -"
"Oh, don't worry. I'm holding up my end of the bargain. As long as I have cooperation from you – Belle will be fine." Regina paced a bit. "That curse you gave me. It's not working."
"Oh, so worried. Like Snow – and her lovely new husband. They paid me a visit," Rumpelstiltskin teased. "They were very anxious. About you. And the curse."
"What did you tell them?"
"The truth. That nothing can stop the darkness. Except, of course, their unborn child. You see, no matter how powerful – all curses can be broken," he said in a childish voice. "Their child is the key. Of course – the curse has to be enacted first."
"Tell me what I did wrong," Regina demanded.
"For that – there's a price."
"What do you want?" Regina asked.
"Simple – in this new land, Belle will have comfort. She will want for nothing."
"Fine. She'll be the wealthiest woman in town."
"And I will be with her. I want to be with my Belle."
"I'll make sure of it."
"There's more," he demanded.
"There always is with you."
"In this new land – should Belle ever come to you for any reason, you must heed her every request. As long as she says -" Rumpelstiltskin thought about it for a moment, then spoke up. "Please!" he said, giggling like a madman.
"You do realize that, should I succeed, you won't remember any of this," Regina reminded him. "Nor will Belle."
"Well, then – what's the harm?" Rumpelstiltskin proceeded to inform Regina of the extreme length she must go to in order to enact the curse. A sacrifice of what she loves the most. Upon Regina's exit, he heard someone enter.
"Quite a performance. But you do enjoy the drama, don't you?" Belle said, approaching his cage.
"Always, my darling – always." Rumpelstiltskin took her hand and kissed it gently.
"Why do people have to die for this curse? Is it really necessary?"
"An unfortunate necessity. There is no other way, my dear. But it will be the last death –I will do no more harm, I give you my word." Rumpelstiltskin took Belle's hand and kissed it. "Ah – I cannot wait until we are able to kiss for real. Once the savior arrives, I will awaken, and we will have our true love's kiss. And then we can find Bae. And we'll be together."
"You promise me, Rumple. You promise me we will be together in this land," she said, gripping his hands tightly.
"You heard the queen. We have a deal. Now go, before someone finds you here. I will see you soon my love. My Belle."
"Goodbye Rumple. I love you."
"And I love you," he replied, watching carefully as she walked away.
Twenty Eight Years Later . . . .
"Swan. Emma Swan," Emma said to Widow Lucas, who looked up nervously as the man entered. He was a slim man of average stature, with long dirty brown hair that was straggly and graying. He walked with a cane, and he wore a torn shirt and blue jeans that were ragged and worn.
"Emma. What a lovely name," Mr. Gold said, smiling at her.
"The Ice Queen has you out collecting her rent again?" Widow Lucas asked. "It's all here." She handed the money to Mr. Gold as Ruby watched, a noticeable look of pity toward the man on her face.
"Yes – of course it is. Thank you." Gold turned and looked at Emma. "Enjoy your stay. Emma," he said, trying to catch his breath as he left the inn. Gold ambled to his car – a beaten up machine that he was amazed could still run. "Damn her," he whispered to himself, slamming his cane against the ground as his past memories flooded back. This was not how he imagined it would be at all.
"Who was that?" Emma asked after Gold left.
"Mr. Gold. He's a bit reclusive, but he's harmless. He works for our landlord – Isabelle French. If you see her coming, I recommend that you head the other way. She is not someone you want to tangle with," Widow Lucas said.
"So she owns this place?" Emma asked.
"No – she owns the entire town," Ruby informed her.
Mr. Gold entered the shop – Ms. French's Pawn Shop the sign outside read – and his eyes filled with anger at the scene he witnessed.
"Gordon, I said NO, not tonight," Isabelle said, her eyes firmly planted on the book she was reading as the tall, dark man pawed at her, "I'm busy," and she pushed him away. Isabelle was dressed in a stylish business skirt/suit, her hair up in a bun and expensive jewelry adorning her earlobes, wrist, and fingers.
"Aw, come on Izzy. You can't hold out on me forever," Gordon said.
"You bore me, Gordon. I need a break."
"Miss French -" Gold interrupted. "I have the money from Widow Lucas."
"Just set it down on the counter." Isabelle said, as Gordon moved toward the door. He and Gold glared at one another, not saying a word. Gordon left in a huff. Gold set the wad of money down as Isabelle continued to read, then proceeded to stare at her until Isabelle looked up at him. "Is there a problem?" she asked coldly.
"N – No, Miss French," he replied.
"Good. Then leave." she demanded, her tone of voice aloof and uncaring as she turned her attention back to her book.
"Yes ma'am," Gold replied, and he limped to the back of the store. He lived there in a small apartment – nothing but a bed, a shower and bathroom, and minimal closet space, not that he had much. Mr. Gold was the town cripple – and for as long as everyone could remember, he worked for Isabelle French, owner of the pawn shop and most of the property in Storybrooke. She was a ruthless, cutthroat businesswoman and the town feared her. Mr. Gold was her caretaker – he looked after the pawn shop and frequently went about town collecting her rents. Everyone knew she barely paid him anything – room and board and not much else. The town felt sorry for him – he was a poor, crippled man and many were convinced that the injury which led to him needing a cane happened at the hand of Isabelle herself, or her sometimes boyfriend/lover Gordon, who was just as obnoxious as she was. But despite this, Gold remained loyal to her. He did her bidding and he cleaned her shop without argument. Isabelle, for all of her faults, seemed satisfied with this arrangement. The townspeople thought it was because he was so frail and so vulnerable, and so easily taken advantage of. He must fear her wrath if he ever left her employment – why else would he stay working for a monster like her?
Mr. Gold sat down on his bed and glanced at the chipped cup sitting on his nightstand. His false memories said that he had dropped it one day while cleaning the store, and Isabelle, after shouting in anger with him, informed him that if he was going to be so clumsy then he would no longer be permitted to use any of her good china for his tea. He could use the broken cup as punishment.
But now he knew the truth.
Regina had promised him that he and Belle would be together in this new land, and they had been for twenty eight years. But this is not what he imagined. He cursed Regina for her wickedness – for turning his Belle, his beautiful Belle, into a woman that she would loathe and despise.
Regina had turned Belle into a feminine version of his old self. She didn't love him. True love's kiss would never work on a woman whose heart was ice cold. And how could a crippled, pitiful old man with nothing melt that heart and make her love him again?
Next chapter we will visit the dark castle! Thank you for reading!