A/N: In Going Home...Together, I made the Dark One a soul which lived in the curse and Rumple. As the curse was broken with True Love's Kiss, their love trapped the soul in a protective bubble. He lives inside Rumple's head and can speak to him and Belle, mostly in dreams, but doesn't have a say in what he does.
Chapter Two
"Papa, you were really mean to Jiggle Berry and Jolly Lark," Duer said as he looked up at his papa and Rumplestiltskin pouted.
"Well, you have to remember, Darling. I wasn't very nice back then."
"Is that because you were all alone?"
"Exactly," he said and tapped the tip of his finger on the tip of Duer's nose. "Now, where was I?"
"You and the elves went to rescue Father Winter," Belle said and Duer snuggled closer to his papa.
Narnia – the Palace of the Winter Witch
The puff of purple smoke swirled in small circles then vanished as Rumplestilskin looked around and the elves held onto his legs. Looking down, he sighed then moved away from them and looked at the statues which were decorating the room.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked, looking at the elves. The elves ran to him when they headed for the staircase made of ice and headed up the steps. Suddenly three wolves appeared at the top of the stairs and the elves yelped, hiding behind Rumplestiltskin.
"What are you doing here, Dark One?" the alpha wolf growled and Rumplestiltskin had a cold look on his face.
"Your mistress has captured Father Winter and I intend on freeing him," Rumplestiltskin said.
"You will have to get through us first," one of the wolves growled.
"I was afraid of that," Jingle Berry whimpered.
"Do something," Jolly Lark said and Rumplestiltskin sighed.
"You are pushy, aren't you?" Rumplestiltskin asked then looked at the wolves. He knew Narnia wolves were more dangerous than the wolves and werewolves in the Enchanted Forest and the three wolves stalked down the stairs. He kept his eyes on the alpha wolf when the alpha wolf howled and jumped at him. Before the alpha wolf could clamp its teeth around his throat, Rumplestiltskin waved his hand and they were standing on the top of the stairs. The wolves glared at him as Rumplestiltskin giggled and the elves peeked out from behind his legs. "You want something to chase? Here."
Rumplestiltskin waved his hand when a clockwork rabbit appeared then scampered out of the room. Howling, the wolves ran away as the elves looked up at him and Jolly Lark frowned.
"Why didn't you do that sooner?" he demanded, but Rumplestiltskin pretended not to listen and headed down the hallway. They followed close behind as he looked at the doors and waved his hands, making the doors slam open. He looked quickly into the rooms when he found the right room and walked inside. The walls were covered in bright white or icy blue ice and he was surprised that he could walk on the ice flooring. Large icicles hung from the ceiling and shimmered in a bright white illumination.
"This is impressive," Rumplestiltskin said with a small smile.
At the center of the room was an iron cage coated in thick ice and sitting on a wooden cot was Father Winter. He was as tall as Rumplestiltskin and had a round face and build, a small nose, nice lips and rosy cheeks. His eyes were a deep blue and his hair, moustache and full beard were snow white. His ice blue velvet clothing with white rabbit fur trim was dirty and the black leather belt was undone. The black leather boots were covered in ice and mud and the ice blue mittens were sitting next him on the wooden cot.
"Master," Jolly Lark said as he ran to the iron cage and Father Winter looked from him to Rumplestiltskin and sighed.
"What have you done?" Father Winter asked.
"We had to do something," Jingle Berry said. "It's getting late and the children…"
"Yes, I understand, but why him?" he asked, looking at Rumplestiltskin.
"Well, if you don't want my help, Dearie, I shall be going," Rumplestiltskin said with a small bow when Father Winter held his hand up and shook his head.
"No, please stay," he said and Rumplestiltskin frowned, folding his arms over his chest.
"Mind telling me how you got into this mess in the first place?"
"I had received word from…."
"Uh, no names," a female voice said as Rumplestiltskin turned around and Jadis the Winter Witch came in the room. Rumplestiltskin looked at her as she seemed to glide across the ice floor and her long blonde hair floated around her shoulders. She stopped in front of Rumplestiltskin when she smiled and he tilted his head to one side. "Well, look who we have here."
"Let him go," Rumplestiltskin said as he scrunched up his nose and bared his teeth.
"Why do you care? Something like you should be happy he's finally been caged," she said as she moved by him and looked at Father Winter.
"But why did you cage him? There are no children here," Rumplestiltskin said, walking to her.
"Oh, there are children here," Jadis said. "Did you truly believe fauns, centaurs and other creatures of this world were born fully grown?"
"And he delivers presents to them?"
"Yes," Jadis said then glared at Father Winter. "With those presents, he gives them hope. I have enough trouble with Aslan. I don't have time for this."
"He only delivers presents once a year."
"That is one time too many," she growled and slammed her hands against the bars of the iron cage.
"You really need to control that temper of yours, Dearie," Rumplestiltskin said then giggled. Growling, Jadis turned and glared at him.
"I will not have you interfering," she growled as she waved her hand and a bolt of ice flew from her hand. Rumplestiltskin vanished before the ice bolt hit him then reappeared next to her and she spun around, glaring at him. She fired another ice bolt, but he vanished and appeared on top of a large, flat top piece of ice.
"My goodness, he is quick," Jingle Berry said.
"He's showing off," Jolly Lark said with a snort.
Roaring, she fired multiple ice bolts as he vanished then reappeared, but even he knew he was getting tired from using so much magic. He stood on top of the iron cage as his heart slammed in his chest and he was breathing hard and fast through his nose.
"Getting tired, are you?" Jadis asked with a smile.
"All magic comes with a price, Dearie. I may be immortal, but I do get tired," he said and Jadis smiles.
"My magic had no price," she said and he arched an eyebrow.
"All magic means ALL magic," he said and she laughed. Sighing, he blinked his eyes a few times when the Sight showed him her future and he pressed his lips together.
"I am not afraid of you," she growled when she fired another ice bolt and he waved his hand, firing a fire bolt. The bolts collided as steam filled the air with a loud hiss and Jadis growled. She fired more ice bolts when Rumplestiltskin vanished and reappeared behind her. He spun her around when he flicked his hand up and a large fireball appeared. He moved his hand back when….
Rumplestiltskin's castle
"Uh, Rumple, I think you better stop," Belle said when he looked down and Duer had his face buried in his papa's chest and was shaking.
"Oh, Darling, I didn't mean to scare you," Rumplestiltskin said and kissed the top of his son's head.
"You didn't hurt her, did you, Papa?" Duer asked when he looked up and fat tears rolled down his round cheeks.
"I wanted to, but I had seen her future. Someone else was going to destroy her," he said and Duer sniffed. Rumplestiltskin waved his hand as a handkerchief appeared in his hand when he used the handkerchief to wipe Duer's face and eyes and Duer used the handkerchief to blow his nose.
"I want to know how she was able to contact him," Belle said.
"It turned out it was Jolly Lark. She had taken his family hostage and would have killed them if he didn't do as she said."
"Did he get put in the dungeon?" Duer asked.
"No, he was banished. I found him a nice elven village where he and his family were reunited."
"What did you do with Jadis?" Belle asked.
"I spun a fire circle around her, which prevented her magic from working, and freed Father Winter."
"How did you do that?"
"I just waved my hand and made the iron cage disappear," he said and Duer giggled while Belle smiled, rolling her eyes.
"And he was able to bring presents to the children?" Duer asked.
"Well, yes, but we made a deal first," Rumplestiltskin said and they wondered what he meant.
Rumplestiltskin's castle – the den
The purple smoke swirled then faded while Father Winter gasped and Rumplestiltskin giggled. Jingle Berry held onto Father Winter's leg then let go and frowned. He was going to miss his friend, but understood why Jolly Lark had betrayed them and Father Winter stood in front of the large stone fireplace.
"I wish to thank you for freeing me," Father Winter said then turned to look at him. "But I need to know why something like you would even care."
"I…I had a son once," Rumplestiltskin sighed and looked at his feet. "He used to get so excited at Wintertide. I had the hardest time getting him to sleep. In the morning, he would jump on the bed and wake me up so he could see what you left him. It didn't matter if it was just wool socks or an orange. When I lost…when he…"
"I see," Father Winter said with a sigh and Rumplestiltskin looked at him with a cold look in his eyes.
"At least you brought HIM something," he said with an icy tone to his voice.
"What are you implying?"
"There is one thing I never understood. Was it true that I have been on the Naughty List since the day I was born?" he demanded and Father Winter gave him a confused look.
"I don't understand."
"I was told the reason why I NEVER got anything from you was because my mother died giving birth to me! I know women do die in childbirth, but, Seven Hells, to blame an innocent baby… That is…barbaric!" Rumplestiltskin growled through his teeth and tears threatened to fall from the corners of his eyes.
"I did no such thing."
"Do NOT lie to me!" he shouted then looked down and two tears trickled down his cheeks. He swore silently he wasn't going to cry in front of him and was surprised when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he blinked the tears out of his and Father Winter patted his shoulder.
"Someone has lied to you, but it wasn't me," he said and Rumplestiltskin sighed. "Now, as to the price for you saving me, what do you want?"
"I want my son back," Rumplestiltskin whispered and Father Winter blinked his eyes a few times.
"I don't think I can do that," Father Winter said then smiled. "But I do have an idea. Do you know the story of the Rumple Bumple?"
"Of course I do."
"The Rumple Bumple isn't real, but he could be," Father Winter said with a wide grin and Rumplestiltskin giggled.
"If I agree to this, it's forever, Dearie."
"Then we have a deal?" Father Winter asked when a scroll tied with a black ribbon appeared in his hand and a canvass sack appeared near Rumplestiltskin's feet. Taking the scroll in his hand, Rumplestiltskin made a little bow then giggled as he vanished in a puff of purple smoke.
Rumplestiltskin's castle
"Wait, are you saying YOU are Rumple Bumple?" Belle asked with wide eyes.
"What is Rumple Bumple?" Duer asked, looking up at his papa.
"Rumple Bumple is a story about this imp who travels with Father Winter and delivers coal and slimy things to naughty boys and girls," Rumplestiltskin said as he looked at Belle and she frowned while he smiled. "Like this one little girl who was naughty when she broke her mother's vase during a tantrum."
"I was four," Belle said and Duer's eyes went wide.
"Rumple Bumple came to see you, Mama?" he asked and Rumplestiltskin wiggled his eyebrows up and down, smiling.
"Yes, but he asked me if I was sorry. I told him I was and he kissed the top of my head. When I woke up, there was a small doll made of straw on my pillow."
"You left her a present?" Duer asked, looking at Rumplestiltskin.
"Of course," he said. "If the child tells me they are sorry and promise to try to be good or change their ways then I leave a little something. If they don't then they get coal…or worse."
"Do you still have the dolly, Mama?"
"Yes, I do," Belle said and Rumplestiltskin smiled sweetly at her.
"Now," Rumplestiltskin said when he waved his hand and healed Duer's wounds and kissed the top of his son's head. "Why don't we go downstairs and make some ginger cakes?"
"Can we make sugar cookies, too? Father Winter really likes them. Well, that's what Emma told me," Duer said with a big smile.
"I think that is a great idea," Belle said as they got off the bed when Rumplestiltskin picked up his son then took Belle's hand and they left the room.
Hours later
The snow fell outside in large flakes and the peat fire barely lit the room. The purple smoke swirled on the floor then vanished as Rumplestiltskin walked to the bed and knelt down. On the top of the list were the names of the four boys who had attacked Duer and Rumplestiltskin looked at the boy who said he was going to kill them.
"Wake up, Dearie," he said softly and the boy opened his eyes. "You are Niles, are you not?"
"Yes," Niles said, but couldn't really see who was kneeling next to his bed. "Who are you?"
"Have you heard of the Rumple Bumple?" he said then giggled.
"Yes."
"Then you know I only come to naughty boys and girls. I was surprised to see your name on my list."
"I didn't want to do it," Niles said and tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Then why did you hurt that boy? He was smaller than you and only wanted to enjoy the carnival."
"It was all Frederick's idea."
"Do you always do as he says?"
"No, but he said he's thump us good if we didn't."
"So you are sorry for what you did?"
"Yes."
"Will you ever do it again?"
"No, Sir," Niles said as he closed his eyes then felt someone stroking his hair and closed his eyes tighter. When he opened his eyes there was no one in the room and he saw a pair of brand new woolen socks on his pillow. Sitting up, he held the socks in his hands then smiled and looked up at the ceiling. "I promise. I'll be good."
Hours later
The other two boys, Lars and Kristoff, had also told Rumplestiltskin they were sorry for what they had done and promised to change their ways, but he wasn't sure if Frederick would change. He had been to Frederick's home several times and each time he broke his promise. If he was still the Dark One, he would have shown him no one breaks a promise, but he wasn't and he sighed, looking down at the bed.
"Wake up, Boy," he growled and Frederick opened his eyes. He knew who was standing near the bed and rolled over onto his right side. "Do not turn your back to me."
"I'm not afraid of you," Frederick said and Rumplestiltskin arched his eyebrows up. "I also know who you are. You are the Dark One."
"If you're so sure then you know better than to hurt my child."
"I'll do more than that. Next time I see him, I'll stick a dagger in his chest," Frederick growled and anger roared through Rumplestiltskin's chest. Suddenly the Sight showed him something as Rumplestiltskin's face went blank and he sighed.
"No you won't," he said then vanished in a puff of purple smoke and Frederick smiled, closing his eyes.
Rumplestiltskin's castle
The fire crackled in the large stone fireplace as the purple smoke swirled on the floor then vanished and Rumplestiltskin yawned, rubbing his face with his hands. Snapping his fingers, he changed into his red and white striped flannel pajamas when he walked to the bed and slid under the bedding, pulling the duvet up to his chest. Belle was sleeping with Bunfin sleeping between the spaces of their pillows and Rumplestiltskin turned carefully onto his side, looking at them.
"Your feet are cold," Belle sighed then opened her eyes and he smiled at her.
"Sorry to wake you, Darling," he said and she moved closer, kissing his lips.
"How did it go?"
"I was able to cross off nearly all the names this year."
"How many were left?"
"Just one, but he won't be on the list next year," he said and she could barely see the sadness in his eyes.
"Why?"
"The Sight showed me his future. He is going to be killed tomorrow when he goes out hunting with his father."
"Oh," she sighed and he rolled onto his back. Bunfin woke up then crawled over him to settle on his chest and Rumplestiltskin wrapped his hands around his little friend. "You know, you didn't tell us who said you were on the Naughty List forever."
"It was my father," he sighed and she placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Darling. I figured it out a long time ago."
"Do you want to know what my best present was?" she asked and he nodded his head. "It was you."
"And you, all of you, are mine," he said as she snuggled closer and he wrapped his arm around her. He watched her closing her eyes then looked at the canopy and titled his head to one side.
"What's wrong, Dearie?" a familiar voice asked inside his head and he blinked his eyes.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am," he thought then heard a soft giggle
"Yes, you are lucky. You have a wonderful wife and family. You have friends. And you have…Me!"
"Then you do understand when I said all of you are the best thing that ever happened to me."
"Of course," the voice said as he closed his eyes and sighed. "Merry Wintertide, My Friend."
"To you as well," he thought as he drifted off to sleep and the snow gently fell outside the windows.