Seven weeks after the banishment-

Rumpelstiltskin

One thing I hate about the city, that I have come to find out, is that there are no stars in the sky. Because of the damn bright lights there is no way to see them. Even out on the pier, away from the city still teeming with life at one o'clock in the morning, there was not one to be seen. It has been seven weeks since I was ordered to leave Storybrooke but I already have two out of four pawns in the palm of hand for my plan to get back in.

"The imp who once had everything now has nothing." The smell of gin wafted over the odor of dead fish and algae.

"What took you so long dearie?" Turning around I saw none other the Cruella stumbling out of the dark shadows. Her hair being slightly longer, in a white business shirt and black skirt she looked almost sane but I knew better. She looked me in the eyes and started to laugh hysterically.

"You-you actually think that you can use the shtick with me "dearie"? You have no power in this world! You can't do anything to me here. You. Have. No. Power!" She continued to laugh. I was well past my patience with this horrid woman but I waited until her cackling ceased.

"Are you done?" I asked with a sneer. Cruella straightened herself and brought out a flask from her bra. Taking a rather big swig from it, she sloppily wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and pointed at me with unsteady hand, grinning like a cat who had caught a mouse.

"You know…you actually look half way nor-normal here. Hell! In fact I would go as far as to say attractive." She cackled once more and took another drink from her flask. Rolling my eyes at her I decided it was time to end this.

"Well since it's clear that you're not going to stop acting like a drunken ass I'll just leave you to your gin." I told her through clenched teeth.

"Now wait a moment! I did not leave my favorite bar and come here all the way from across town just to come here and get nothing. Over the phone you said you had something in the works and I demand to know what it is!" Cruella yelled.

Walking over to her I snatched the flask from her hand and tossed it into the water. It took her a moment to fully comprehend what I had just did but when she was about to throw a fit I grabbed her around the neck, chocking her slightly. Her eyes showed nothing but fear.

"First of all dearie. You are not to talk to me like that. Ever. Understand?" I growled. She nodded her head as much as she possibly could. I chuckled darkly. Quickly letting go of her, Cruella crashed to her knees.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered. "For disrespecting you…it won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't it." I snarled. It felt good that I could still make people fear me, even without magic. After a minute or so Cruella pulled herself together enough to stand up but this time there was no joking around or slurred words.

"Now that we got that out of the way Cruella. Let's get down to business." She nodded in agreement. "As you know we as villains are not supposed to get a happy ending but what if I told you that I have a plan that could change all that?" Cruella's eyes got wider as I spoke, she was hanging on my every word.

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. And if you want to be a part of this you have to listen to my every command to the letter. And if you as so much disrespect me like you did tonight I will make sure that you never get another ending of any kind because I will kill you."

"You don't have to worry about that. I want this just as badly as you do." She smirked but I could tell in her eyes that she was shaken.

"Well since we're at an agreement. Take this." I ordered, handing her an envelope. She took it without a word and turned it in her hands. "Inside is an address that you will go to tomorrow at exactly seven sharp. And I'll tell you the rest of the plan then. Now if you'll excuse me I have pressing matters to attend to." She nodded and we parted ways.

It took less than an hour to get back to Ursula's apartment. The complex was run down and ancient looking but it was all she had the moment. And the fact that I had to stay with her just proved how far I had truly fallen.

Like normal she wasn't there which was fine with me because I hated her company. Going to the cramped kitchen I sat down at the small table and looked over the maps of New York that I had acquired. All the places I had searched for the infamous Author were crossed out. I didn't even know where to look at that point that's why I needed my three underlings. If the books I had read back in Storybrooke were correct, with the four of us we would hopefully be able to pull out the slightest bit of magic out of the few items we had brought with us from our world.

With that magic we will be able to locate the author and I could finally stop this wild goose chase. I knew it was a long shot and there was a chance that it wouldn't work and if that was the case I already had another plan, which consisted of me paying someone to find him for me but I hoped it wouldn't come down to that.

Putting the maps away I got up and walked out onto the sorry excuse for a patio, once again looking up at the sky, I saw nothing but blackness. It looked just as empty and as dark as my heart felt. And it was all my fault. If only I had been quicker with killing the damn pirate and kept a more watchful eye on Belle, that scum would be dead and Belle would still be none the wiser in her blissful little cloud of ignorance. But fate would never be that kind to me.

Fate is nothing but a cruel mystery. It never gave me a fair hand in life. First it took my father. Second my son. And finally my magic and true love. It did lead me to Belle but it just as quickly made her leave. When I find the Author I will create my own fate, where I will get everything I could ever want.

Magic, power and my Belle.


Belle

"Hello?" Henry called from the front of the shop.

"In the back!" I called as I shoved a few boxes out of the way. It's been a few weeks since my break down in the library and thanks to Archie's advice I had been feeling better every day.

"What's in the boxes Belle?"

"I'm not sure." I told him while putting one of the four large boxes on the table. "That's why I asked you to come. I thought you could help me look through them. That is if you want to." I smiled.

"Of course I would." He beamed. Without being told he pulled up a chair beside me. We opened the top and saw inside a bunch of different items. Some looked more impressive than others but one thing I learned from my mother was that even the most uninteresting trinket could be helpful, you just have to see its potential.

"What if you name off what's in the boxes and I'll make a list?" Henry asked.

"I think that's a great idea."

He pulled out a note book and pencil from his bag and said he was ready. The first box was filled with a few pieces of jewelry, a tea set with a cherry blossom design on them and a few other things. Putting that one aside and was about to grab the next closest box.

"Belle. Can I ask you something?" Henry asked. I looked over at him, the boxes forgotten and saw he was looking at me with an intense look in his eyes.

"You can ask me anything." I reassured him.

"When we find the Author what will you want to change first?" He asked. I was taken back a little bit by the question so I didn't know what to say to him.

"I don't know to be honest. If you had asked me a few weeks ago I would have said I would take back the night when I sent your grandpa away but now…I don't think I want that."

"Why's that?" I thought Henry would be upset at my answer but he just sat there patiently waiting for me to speak.

"Well…if that night happened any differently Rumple would have killed Hook and be free of his dagger. And I would have never know probably. He would have kept me in the dark while so many people suffered with what he did." I stopped for a moment to wipe away my tears. "But I stopped him, I sent him over the line. Now everyone is safe and happy."

"All accept you." Henry whispered. I felt his hand on mine and saw that his eyes shined with unshed tears.

"Don't worry about me Henry. I am happy." I smiled. He did not look convinced at all. "If it wasn't for that night I would have ever known how strong I could be. It hurt me so much to send your grandpa over the line but I thought he would only try again and again until he got what he wanted. I think I saved him from himself in a way. And hopefully with no magic he'll become a better man."

"I understand Belle." He smiled.

"Good. Now let's get to the rest of these boxes." Going over to pick up the next one, I came to find it was extremely heavy.

"What in the world is in this?" I thought out loud. Opening it, I was pleasantly surprised to see it was filled with books. Kneeling down I reached inside and carefully took out the first few on top.

"Wow. That's a lot of books." Henry said joining me on the floor. I read each title of the books out loud as I picked them up and he wrote them down.

"Is that it?" He asked while he finished writing. Looking inside the box once more I saw I missed something at the bottom. It looked like a personal journal of sorts. Reaching inside I brought it into the light and saw that it looked even older then what I first thought. It was leather bound but it looked like it would fall apart if someone handled it to roughly. The pages were sticking out at random points and were a sickly looking yellow. Despite how it looked strong magic was rolling off it in waves, like every page was infused with it.

"Belle…what is that?" Henry asked nervously. He must have felt the magic as well. I was almost too afraid to find out what was inside it but my curiosity got the best of me. Taking a deep breath I opened the front cover as gently as I possibly could.


Cliffhanger! I know I'm evil but I hope to update here shortly. Belle has come to terms about what she did. And Rumple is still Rumple. I hope that everyone enjoyed the second chapter. I do not own OUAT but I wish I did. And like always reviews are always welcomed :)