A/N: Hello! Okay, so I know this chapter is shorter than the others so far, but I really wanted to get it out, and I had a lot of trouble writing it. I didn't, couldn't, get what I wanted out, so I just made it simple. Tada! Well, I'm happy with it, so that's all that matters!

By the way! Don't forget the previous chapter's contest! It's still running!

Read, enjoy, rate and review please!

"Stay away." She hissed at the man before her.

Rumpelstiltskin. The menace of all kingdoms, here at her barn door. No wonder she had been feeling so unnerved, so out of sync with the rest of life around her.

Without fail everyone knew that the sun would rise and set and the moon would follow its path. The rivers would flow and the grass would wave in the breeze. It was common knowledge. But with Rumpelstiltskin nothing seemed to follow its paths of right and wrong. The sun would rise and the moon with it, the grass would flow along the dirt and the rivers would stand still. He was a force of nature, something so completely powerful and so constant in the world that everything seemed to warp around him and model to his every whim. If he came knocking at your door, you sold your soul, no matter what.

But she was on a mission and had no time to abide by such fairy tales. She was in one after all, and this was only one of many foes she was sure she would have to face on the path to her father. But… why him? Why was it the man who made the darkest of creatures cringe at the mention of his very—albeit long and unorthodox—name?

Rumpelstiltskin cackled at her words, and completely disregarded them by strolling towards her leisurely. Despite the fact he must have come from the downpour outside, she saw that he was completely dry, or maybe the glimmering skin she could see was wet with water and gold. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that he was coming closer and closer. Crumbles stomped his large hooves and seemed to step in her way, but this only served to amuse the man and with a snicker he clapped loudly, which made the horse trot back into the depths of the stable.

With only a wooden stick to protect her against a man who could make animals work to his will, her odds seemed pretty one-sided, and they were not in her favor.

"I said," she tried to keep the shudder out of her voice. "Stay away."

He laughed under his breath and cast her a lopsided grin.

"I don't exactly think so my dear."

"Shut up."

"I don't think so~" he countered in a sing-y sort of tune. It set her on edge, more than she already was.

"Why are you torturing me like this?" her exasperation seemed to cause him more amusement.

"Torture? My dearest little dear, if this is what you call torture then you obviously know nothing of pain and suffering." He jumped a little in excitement, and she wondered if he was going to do just that; show her true torture. But something seemed to stop him from advancing.

"That has nothing to do with this. Why are you here? And why do you not leave?" her voice was strained as she tried to ignore the voice in her head screaming at her to flee as far as she could, Father be damned.

"So many questions so little nightfall!" He tsk-ed his tongue repeatedly, eyes flicking around the barn stall and its dim lighting.

"I'm here because I need to be. And I won't leave for that, same, REASON." He rubbed his hands together contemplatively. "Now, it's ever-so-gracious for a host to take their guest inside on an evening such as this, and I believe that you are an ever-so-gracious host, when need be… I'm…. assuming…" he leaned towards her, and in parallel she moved back until her back let out a sickening crack.

"One, learn personal space." She grumbled at him. "Two, get away and think about number one. Three, I am not your host, nor will I ever be." She grew louder as she continued to talk, feeling a small speck of confidence try and ignite a fire within her. But when Rumpelstiltskin flashed another of his wide-toothed grins it went out like it had been doused with cold water, ice chilling her veins even through the warmth of her drying cloak.

Rumpelstiltskin cracked his neck, bending it back and forth and side to side, and the noise was sickening.

"One." He rammed a finger into her face, pushing her back with it. "You will learn some manners, dearie. I do hate when people are rude."

He added another finger, and thus more pressure, onto her chest.

"TWO." His voice rose momentarily, but it seemed to only be for shock value, because when the fearful look returned to her face he returned to normal volume.

"I am here for a very specific reason, one that you needn't worry yourself with, yet, but one important nonetheless. So you will follow my rules until my business here is done."

With the addition of another finger she fell onto the hay-leafed ground, arms reaching backwards to catch her own fall. He knelt down in front of her, face centimeters from hers. She could feel his warm breath, smelling of stale bread and old meat, on her face, and she didn't know whether to gag or hold herself still, but she seemed forced to the latter. His gaze was empty and dark, and she couldn't move away from it, no matter how hard she tried.

"Three." His voice was lowered to a whisper. "You will take me to your home, to your father, and you will do it without hassle. Or else."

As quick as he was down he was back up, a surprisingly strong arm pulling her to her feet and pushing her along.

She yelped as she was pushed, but tried to move along through the barn. Maybe if she made it close to the entrance, she could run into the forest. No one knew the trees and brush like her, and the hiding spots were infinite.

Then, his words seemed to dawn on her a little.

"My father is gone." She said, turning around to face him head-on. The night wind whirled her cloak along, and for a second she didn't see his face.

She imagined it. Finally, being able to stump the incredible Rumpelstiltskin. He wanted her Father, but why? No, that didn't even matter. He was not here, that must have been why he left! As soon as everything was safe, he would return. He was obviously okay since the imp had not gotten to him yet! And this was the icing on the cake! A selfish man like him would be enraged at not getting what he wanted. Maybe this was her chance to finally turn the tables on such a great man.

No one would deny Rumpelstiltskin the title of 'great'. He was truly an unsurpassable magician and trickster. His lies were the best, his deals permanent. There was no other better than him at making potions, concocting magical brews, and even, through rumor, spinning grain into gold on an ordinary housewife's loom. If anyone called him a hack, or talentless, even his greatest enemy would disagree. His power was a simple fact, a still point in all of the world and the worlds beyond, if there were any.

So the prospect of beating him made her heart jump several beats, then stop altogether.

For as the cloak fell away from her face, she was aghast to see the brightest of dirty-teethed grins resting upon his lips. There was no anger, no malice, only an uncontrollable sort of glee that gave her the desire to wretch. But she held it back, if not for her empty stomach, but for the unwanted but surely needed desire to discover exactly what had turned him this way.

"W-What?" She cursed herself inwardly, angry that her voice had faltered in the presence of such delight.

Rumpelstiltskin guffawed, doubling over and stomping one foot in the dirt of the ground. The laughter was like a rusty bells tinkle mixed with the cawing of ravens, and it gave her the worse feeling of dread that she had encountered the whole night.

"Oh my dear, his absence only makes my job easier!" He cackled out his words, as though the laughter could not stop no matter how hard he tried.

With a long sigh he stopped and attempted to compose himself, tittering his fingers in the air and shaking his head to obviously clear it.

"You see, he had something of mine, and he being gone only made it easier for me to collect."

"Collect what?"

"You."

A/N: Hope you liked it! Please don't forget the contest and reviewing!