A/N: Yay I can work on this story now! Quick note; classes start for me today so the chapters might be a tad erratic in popping up. Anyhow thanks for reading and reviewing!
~8~8~
"So this where the curse brought us." Belle observed soberly as her azure eyes intriguingly scanned the neat deserted streets of Storybrooke.
The small town, under the blanket of forlorn leaden gray sky, sat quiet as a crypt with only the wind whistling through apertures and rustling old fall leaves scudding or swirling across the pavement to aid in any noise.
Cars sat deserted and forgotten in the middle of the road, but not crashed and burning and some still running with their engines rumbling quietly. Shop doors had been left ajar, but no looters had come to despoil or steal valuable merchandise, and no broken glass or kicked in doors seemed to be evident anywhere they strode by.
They strolled by the school yard on their way back to the heart of the small hamlet, only to be met with the slowly screeching noise of empty swings instead of laughing young ones playing chase and shrieking in fun.
To one newly arrived in the small, backwoods county, it would have seemed of rapture like desolation.
Despite the tragedy layered under the stones and shops, it was a nice little shire, Belle noted with that always indomitable silver glimmer of optimism she possessed no matter how harrowing the situation.
Rumpelstiltskin nodded absently in reply, his features oddly grim and deep in this human form that Belle couldn't quite get used to. "Indeed." He replied simply, his thoughts and mind elsewhere crafting and designs and dismissing plans. Plans for finding Baelfire, and also plans for revenge.
For 28 years he had lived under abject misery in the dark, everlasting shadowed memory of Belle's cruel, unjust demise. He had beaten her father into a concussion over the troublesome memories that plagued him and had long ago killed the haughty clerics and shaman that had seemingly played a hand in her destruction. Had they deserved it, or had they not played a hand in her torment at all? It had been so long ago, so long since he had relished their screams as a small payment for what they had done to his Belle.
He carried his cane tucked under one arm, while his Belle clung to the other as they trekked through the quite province. Some moments he could still barely believe she was present and alive beside him; real and as solid as the last day he'd seen her at the threshold of the Dark Castle.
At times he'd stop and touch her porcelain face gently with his wiry fingers, faintly brushing back a lock of her russet tresses, or wrap her lovingly in his arms, always whispering and begging his apologies for her forgiveness. He could beg on his hands and knees for a thousand years, and still he thought it would never be enough to show her just how sorry he was.
Shrugging the dire thoughts or revenge and morose away and the press of magic once again trying to worm its way in the hierarchy of his mind, Rum shook his head slightly and offered a quiet chuckle as he flourished his fingers through the air. "Truth be told, I was expecting chaos in the streets. Buildings aflame, screams that seemed to spring from thick curtains of black smoke, guns firing randomly into pitching masses."
"The villagers of Storybrooke are too smart to give into panic?" The dark amber haired beauty arched a delicate brow.
At that, the restored fiend gave a hearty laugh and pulled his precious love close to kiss her once more on the top of her dull copper hued locks. "No, no, Belle-of-mine. They're far to frightened to panic. After all only thirty minutes ago everyone in this town realized the life they thought they lived, the people they thought they knew, the places they thought they'd been was all a lie."
"Where is everyone anyway?" She queried abruptly while watching a stray dog dart across the road, his tail tucked between his legs as though holding testament to Rum's perceptive comment.
"My guess." The business man turned a corner where, between the messes of cars abandoned on the streets, a buttercup yellow bug seemed to stand out like a golden ray amidst the gray, soggy day. He pointed his cane to the vehicle then towards the blinking red neon sign of Granny's diner. "Where ever we see that car…"
The noise in Granny's diner was nearly deafening. Citizens newly awakened of their old memories had gathered to the restaurant as though pulled their by some unknown tether that subconsciously coaxed them to that one destination. Perhaps it was simply the magic that radiated of Emma Swann like a beam of light on a moonless night, giving them something to follow in their shock and fear.
Every notable along with those merely caught in the curse by circumstance had squeezed and shuffled in the homey establishment so much so that it was even hard to breath. Cutlery clinked raucously and tables that where not bolted down had been moved to make room, but still it was difficult just to slip by another body.
Everyone talked at once in a low rumble, babies cried, while others tried to locate loved ones in the crowed they had been separated from for so long.
Most all notables could be seen squashed in the masses just as everyone else, though the people seemed to remember their monarchs and rulers and gave them a small berth of space and respect.
Weapons of axes, hammers, spades, kitchen knives and a quiet a few guns all lay close at hand to everyone that entered, and were constantly being pawed at and fingered in nervousness. While they were not panicking, they were most certainly not ill prepared to become such should their shock be rippled towards the throes of hysteria.
"People are going to recognize you if you go in there." Belle whispered to Rum worriedly. Even hiding in the shadows across the street the pair could hear the ruckus, and all the windows had been open to clearly display the inside.
Now that everyone had their memories back, the beauty was dubious her Rum would get a warm welcome, unless torches and burning at the stake qualified as 'warm'.
The Dark One smiled slyly at her. "Always a perceptive one aren't you?" He lightly kissed her temple to assuage her worry. "I have magic now, remember."
Now that he had magic back and had exclaimed his love, he could protect her and himself better than ever before with out denial or excuses.
With that he twiddled his fingers through the muggy air, bringing forth the sickly sweet fragrance of his magic, long bereft in his blood, and a fog of dark amethyst encircling them.
While he had been years out of practice with the magic void of his control and lying in stasis inside, the spells and conjurations came back as fresh as the day he had first began to weave the dark forces.
Even though Belle hated to admit it as the magic rolled over their respective forms, the feel of his magic's was a welcome to steady her mind and bring back a comfort she had long missed. It brought memories of the Dark Castle flooding back and the rare kind uses her master put his powers to task at.
"There." Rum beamed victoriously as he fanned his hand in the air, getting rid of the last wisp of lilac power. "No one will notice us though we will be insight of everyone."
The slight clatter of the bell on top of the door jingled again as another troupe of people wandered inside.
Rum, chuckled, sounding very much how it had in the Dark Castle, as he took Belle's arm in his own. "Let's go. Anymore people go in and I fear there will be no more room for anyone." He observed amusingly.
The beauty only giggled softly and crinkled her nose in reply to his quips. Oh she had missed him, her Rum. She had craved everything about him while being away and gone, his gray gold skin, his onyx eyes, his high pitched giggle, and yes even his magic.
The reused air in the cramped diner was stiflingly hot as the pair entered. Overhead the bell pealed out again merrily, but no one gave the newcomers something more than a cursory glance.
Fear rumbled in the beauty's chest at the feeling of claustrophobia over taking her in its all controlling grip. 28 years stuck in a cold 5 by 5 cell, had made her disinclined for small or packed places of any sort.
The pawnbroker, paused as though feeling her fear emanating from her. Her lovely features had fallen ashen and her breath sputtering out tremulously as though it was taking all her will to breathe the scalding air.
Squeezing her hand in a comforting grip, the fiend smile reassuringly in a way that spoke of his protection of her louder than any words ever could. He would let nothing happen to her.
The look was like water to a parched man, filling Belle with desperately needed courage towards the oppressive heat and the close quarters of bodies so tightly jammed together like sardines in a tin, and practically brimming with fears and angers of their own.
With a small nod and a deep breath, focusing only on her love, she squashed the feeling of asphyxiation and terror and let him lead her to a tight spot at the back of the crowd.
"Settle down everyone." A steady female voice suddenly ordered just as the pair took their places in the cramped shadows.
Surprisingly the masses quieted like obedient dogs, each looking at the speaker with eager hope or despondent wariness.
"That's Miss Swann, the curse breaker and sheriff." Rum informed Belle in a whisper, seeing her confusion towards the addressor.
This was the second time she had heard of the sheriff, but so far she hadn't had a chance to find out so much concerning her. Though now more pieces to the puzzle were put in place.
The sheriff grimaced at the crowd as she appeared from the back of Granny's Diner. Her arms were crossed threateningly as she glared at the masses, but there was no denying the anxiousness in her eyes or in the down turned lines creasing her stoic features.
She hadn't wanted to do the talking. She hadn't wanted to step up for these people. All she wanted was to take Henry away from his psycho of an adopted mother and leave the crazy town forever. But that was impossible now, for she had broken the curse; she was joined to the magic that still fettered the town to the only world she had ever known.
In a way she felt obligated to those who had so long been banished from their homes and true lives. And in another, she felt the hot rage of injustice and utter desire to see Regina brought down to justice.
Others she had hoped would have assumed responsibility and stepped up to lead, but she found herself involuntarily taking the position until it was to late to turn back. The people looked to her for guidance, and as Mary, no, incredibly, her mother had said, they needed her more than ever.
"I know you're all confused." Emma began; her boots the only sound in the packed diner as she stalked slowly amidst the throngs. "Until a few hours ago I was to. I didn't want to believe, but the truth is undeniable. We were all teleported here by a curse thanks to the Madame Mayor."
"What do we do?" A shrill voice in the crowd cried piteously.
Another piped up. "How do we get back home?"
"What's going to happen to us?"
"Is the Mayor going to kill us?"
The grim sheriff held her hand up for silence, in addition to a feral warning growl thrumming from Ruby's throat for the questions, which were on the verge of panic, to be put on hiatus.
"We don't know yet." She turned to her parents and the others who would have been kings and queens back in their world before turning back to the crowds. "None of us do. The Madame Mayor is…smart. Who knows how far she's planned this."
"Then let's get her!" Some voice Emma thought might belong to doctor Whale roared through the stuffed restaurant.
Cheers of approval met the idea, as people, just coming out of the throes of shock were now seeking blood for the crimes done against them and the curse that had so cruelly shackled them to this fate.
"No!" A small voice exclaimed suddenly frantic.
Those who had turned to the door, with their weapons in hand and brandished murderously, faced a small ten year old boy, wielding a large storybook in his grip.
"The boy is Henry." Rum explained to his love in a whisper, seeing more confusion. "His story is rather complicated." He frowned sardonically.
The beauty merely nodded, and sidled impossibly closer to her love.
The boy's shaggy brown hair vaguely covered his face, but he blew it back and held the book up like some sacred treasure. "Look, my mom couldn't kill Emma because it might do something bad to the curse. If we do something bad to her there's no guarantee we'll make it home at all."
"Henry's right." Emma agreed as she shoved her way over to the ten year old to protect her son. A hand fingered at her gun holster just in case of trouble of an unruly crowd.
Her eyes were hard as rock as she scanned the entire crowd pitching and heaving with so many different emotions it was almost as thick as the air. "Let's not do anything that could very well damn us all."
"Then what should we do?" This time the voice came from a frail woman somewhere in the back of the crowd.
"We wait." The golden haired sheriff replied promptly, her tone not up for argument. "Go back home, make dinner for your families, and try to catch up. In the morning go to work and take your kids to school. It's business as usual till we can figure out a way to defeat Regina."
A male voice cried out defensively. "And just who are you to tell us what to do? Why should we listen to you?"
"She is the curse breaker and daughter of King James and Queen Snow, so you had best mind your tongue." Leroy snarled angrily and spun about to the man who had broached the question. "She helped us be free of our mind slavery to Regina, and is the only one who can get us back. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm following her."
A multitude of mumbling approval met the once dwarfs statement. Giving her a wink and a nod he respectfully beckoned the relieved Emma to continue.
The sheriff stood erect, like a bright light amidst the chaos and darkness and terror seized upon them. "Unfortunately we have to play the waiting game to see Regina's next move. But there will be a time when we can sort this mess out and see the Madame Mayor brought down."
"Not without my help there won't." A slightly amused voice stated nonchalantly.
Before he had even said it, Belle could feel the enchantment and magic oozing off her flesh, now making her catch the attention of all who were around.
Though the diner was full far past its max capacity, some how, those around managed to make room to back away from the devious beast they all knew - Rumpelstiltskin.
"You." Growled Emma lowly almost in a snarl of fury.
Murmurs arose like mist from the crowd as eyes wide with fear and hate eyes flew towards the comfortably standing beast and the beauty. Ashley gave a gasp of fear, holding her child close, while Shawn stood in front of her protectively with only a thick piece of timber for a weapon.
The cold steel of her gun was the only thing that reminded the fair haired sheriff not to draw her weapon in an open, packed crowd as she stomped vengefully over to Gold.
After all he had done, stealing the vial and making her loose Henry for his own sadistic purposes!
Face to face with the slightly smirking Mr. Gold, Emma fumed at him wrathfully through grit teeth and forced herself not to whip out her cuffs. "You give me one good reason why I shouldn't drag you behind this diner and shoot you like the mongrel you are; after all you've done?"
At that a few rumbles of approval were heard from the masses who equally hated the devious Rumpelstiltskin.
Mr. Gold shrugged carelessly, nonplused by her threats of execution. "Because you need me of course. Who else has the power and knowledge to help you stop her majesty?"
"And what makes you think we need anything from you." James barked, only held back by a gentle hand on his bicep by Snow.
A smile slithered upon the fiends thin lips as his eyes alight deviously. "I don't know; what do you need from me?" He turned suddenly towards the crowd and flourished his hand through the air. "Care to answer that question your majesty?"
Purple fog wove through the mass of bodies coming to one nondescript woman nestled beside a booth.
Gasps and screams of terror echoed around the diner as her flesh began to melt and drip like hot wax. The once flesh pooled unto the floor and hissed with tiny wisps of smoke winding up, leaving a foul stench in its wake; adding even more repulsion to the heated air.
All eyes widened in horror as it was no longer they woman they had seen enter, but Regina.
Behind the newly revealed vile monarch, the fiend branded a strange coiled mark into the plasters and wood of the diner. "A rather simple sigil will dispel such cloaking magic's." He explained then spared a wink Emma's way. "That little bit of information is free of charge as a show of good faith. I always like to stay on good terms with my business partners."
"Get her!" An enraged voice proclaimed.
Before people could move to seize the sorceress, a wave of darkness pulsed from the queen's outstretched hand throwing the a few blood thirsty people back into the crowd that mostly stood stiff in fear.
A smirk, hiding a flare of anger and irritation flew towards the businessman and the sheriff, but as her eyes caught another, lovely figure behind the fiend, her eyes couldn't help but widen in surprise. How had that pathetic slave girl managed to escape!
The girl in turn saw her, and immediately recognized the dark, sinister eyes that had often come to look upon her, through the slit in the iron door of her cell, as though she were some trophy or secret weapon.
Fear strangled the beauty again, making her back away as far as she possibly could from the vile monarch. Memories of torment by her hand, roused in her mind instantly. Screams as magic dug under her skin, and the cold iron of a chain tightly wrapped around her neck, and the seething whispers that constantly tried to poison her mind darted through her head in a blinding blur.
The shock flitted from Regina's face a moment later as she forced herself to remain looking slightly amused and in completely control.
"Well, it's about time someone spotted me." She uttered a mirthless chuckle and knocked a lock of midnight hair from her pale, cunning face. "Anymore time and I would have learned of your full plans."
Emma took a step forward, plainly confused. "How…"
"Magic." Rum informed her casually. "Something I have copious amounts and experience of."
"Oh and I suppose you're going to give them some form of aid to get back at me, Rumpel?" The harpy mocked callously.
A deep frown etched on the magical fiends face at the taunt but the queen merely grinned with an inward knowing her cruelty had hit home.
The wicked mayor scoffed abruptly and waved her hand dismissively through the air. "But I have more pressing concerns to attend to like squashing this pitiful excuse for a rebellion brewing under my rule."
"You don't rule anything." Emma hissed angrily; her hand clenched upon her holster.
How dare she look upon them as some sort of unruly subjects!
"Please Miss Swann do stop your childishness." Regina snorted derisively before turning her piercingly shrewd gaze to the crowd. "You all know who rules this place. You know what I can do and you know I reward those loyal to me, and punish those who seek to be…unruly. One of you asked how you get back home." She looked quizzical to the rapt masses. "Why would you want to? Back to your fields and carts and harsh winters mucking about in hovels or cold castles? Disease rife and unchecked, wars of swords and shields? My rule, my world, offers you so much more than the old. Accept my rule, or fall with this…" She skewed her ruby lips in a sneer towards Emma. "Usurper and her band of mischievous rabble."
A smile brimming with malice and cunning crossed her lips as she looked at them all with a deferent queenly grace as ebony magic spiraled around her. "The choice is yours." She ended simply and vanished in a voided cloud.
The crowd stood absolutely silent save for a few people scuffling away for the door, frantic to be away from the riffraff and rabble Regina had termed them as.
Others soon broke into jointed, shaken conversation while others speculated and pondered amongst themselves, and even a few more crept away into the gray day.
"Well, Miss Swann, I do certainly hope this is the beginning of a wonderful business future." Rumpel smiled and made a partially saluting motion with his cane.
There was no doubt now, they would need it. Regina meant for war, and she would kick and scream with tooth and nail for every part of the battle. And though it galled the business man to admit it, Regina had the distinct advantage. She was not alone, for she had friends, powerful friends, in the town that, with their memories renewed, would flock to her like carrion over a rotting corpse.
Emma eyed the pawnbroker incredulously, a brow perched as though judging his words and his uses. She hated dealing with Mr. Gold, given his twin reputations in this world and the previous, but she had to begrudgingly admit he had his uses; now more than ever with his magic in hand.
"So you'll be joining us to defeat that royal witch?" She asked as her shoulders slumped in acceptance to his words.
Rum shook his head and snorted. "Please Miss Swann, you know me well enough. I never formally take sides for anyone. Your biggest advantage is that I'll deal with you." His face darkened fiercely merely at there thought of Regina. "I, however, will have absolutely nothing to do with that pompous sorceress."
Not after she had blatantly lied to his face and what she had done to Belle. He saw the thick upraised scar encircled around his love's neck thanks to a choking collar so long fettering her. The multitude of welts and bruises he surmised were under the faded gray and thread bare clothes made his blood boil.
For a moment he turned to look at Belle; just to see her could quench the rage burning in his soul and wash over a peace he had hadn't known since she left the Dark Castle. Yet as he cast his glance towards her general direction, to his horror, he found she wasn't there…