Sorry about the long delay. I'm kind of holding off on telling too much more of the story I have in mind until SPOILER I see the Belle scene that will appear in the finale, which I'm hoping will not contradict my planned story. If it does this will probably be cut short, but we'll see. :)
The Rumpelstiltskin in this chapter is a little bit different from the last chapter, less giggles and more turmoil, but I think it's fitting for this scene. What do you think?
Reviews are always welcome. Let me know how I'm doing, and tell me if I should continue or not. :)
Queen Regina looked at the box in her hands. She had done it; she would have her revenge on Snow White. "I'm sorry, daddy…" she whispered to the box. "I wish I could have done it some other way."
She had tried to cast the spell once before, but it had failed, so she had visited Rumpelstiltskin. The cursed imp had told her she needed to sacrifice the thing she loved the most. A black scowl crossed her face as she thought of the glee in his voice when he had told her that. He had enjoyed it.
If she had known this is what he would tell her, she would never have promised him comfort, wealth, power… she would have condemned him to a life of such intense misery he wouldn't be able to stand it… misery that would only be beaten by the misery Snow White would experience.
The Queen opened the box containing her father's heart. Her fingertips caressed the soft wood before reaching in and taking the heart out. She closed her eyes. No tears came. She had none left to cry. There was nothing left inside of her, only emptiness.
She lifted the heart from the box. It was so small, yet so precious. After a moment of hesitation she threw it into the blazing fire in front of her. A cloud of green smoke rose from it and she smiled. Her revenge would soon be complete. Perhaps it was worth it.
Rumpelstiltskin was sitting in his cage. He had decided there was nothing else to do really, he should just wait.
"Oh yes, just wait to be cursed like a good little man."
Rumpelstiltskin banged his head backward against the wall. He was getting tired of the voices. "And what else to you expect me to do? Try to get out? You know just as well as I do that it isn't possible."
The voice was silent for a moment. "You could at least be planning. You aren't though." It giggled. "You don't think you can succeed! You're giving up!"
Rumpelstiltskin leaped to his feet. "I am not giving up!"
"You are so!"
"I am just biding my time." He giggled. "Besides, there isn't anything left to do until the savior comes."
"Liar! You're giving up! You'll never see your son again, just like you'll never see your little Belle again."
Rumpelstiltskin smile vanished and he snarled. "Stop tormenting me!" he shouted.
"You are the one tormenting yourself."
"I don't control what you say!" Rumpelstiltskin shouted angrily.
"Oh no, dearie… but all I do is report the facts. You should know that by now."
Rumpelstiltskin was shaking with rage. "If you were a physical person I would kill you!"
"Oh I know. You would kill the part of you that reminds you that it's all your fault." The voice giggled again. "Too bad you can't! I'm here to stay!"
"Not for long! When we get to the new land you will be gone!"
"And then it will be you saying these words to yourself, not me. You'll never be rid of me, just like you will never be rid of the coward that brought all this upon you."
"Shut up!" Rumpelstiltskin yelled in desperation. The voices in his head were becoming unmanageable, especially this one, the one that condemned his every deed.
Before the voice could reply Rumpelstiltskin felt a vibration in the air. "It is coming!" he said, a giggle replacing the rage in his voice. "She's actually done it! You'll go away now!"
"But you will still suffer."
"Not for long, dearie!" The curse was coming closer, and already he could feel its magic working on him. "I will win in the end!"
"No you won't…"
The voice was cut off mid-sentence as the curse reached Rumpelstiltskin. He giggled as he felt the change come over him, felt his appearance change from a glittering monster into a regular human being. He screamed as he felt his magic ripped from him. He groaned as that in turn brought every old injury back. He couldn't see anything through the thick blanket of fog that enveloped him.
"Rumpelstiltskin!" As the last of his magic left him he heard his named called out, but then the moment was gone and he didn't know who or what it was, but the voice had tugged at his heart.
He closed his eyes as the agony in his leg, gone for so long, returned. The voice had been right, he would forever be reminded of his cowardice, if only because of his lame leg.
He felt new memories trying to force themselves into his mind; memories of a world he had never lived in, memories of people he had never met, but he knew they were false.
Then finally, it was over.
Mr. Gold opened his eyes and reached for his gold-headed cane. He straightened his tie and got up from his chair. He had many things to do, and only 28 years in which to do them, but first things first. He had to go visit the mayor of this town… of Storybrooke. Regina Mills these false memories told him was her name. He needed to see her and revel in the fact that she thought she had won, but she had only begun digging her own grave.
Mayor Regina mills looked around her office and smiled. They were here, and even though Snow White and her husband had managed to spirit their child away to safety, her curse would never be broken.
She knew that the savior would not be able to do anything against both her and Rumpelstiltskin, or Mr. Gold as her new memories told her he was called, and when the time came she would control him. She had the thing that he loved the most, his precious Belle. When the time came, he would work with her in order to protect Belle, and the savior, if she ever came, would be powerless.
She heard a knock on her office door and went to open it.
"Good afternoon, Madame Mayor." It was Rumpelstiltskin.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Gold. Can I help you with anything?"
"Yes, actually. I wanted to re-open the library. It has been closed for so long, and now seems an ideal time to open it." He paused. "It would be a shame if the children of this town never got to read fairytales…" he smiled at her, and Regina returned the smile with one of her sweetest. "I like that idea, Mr. Gold. Why don't you come in, we can discuss the details."
The library was opened soon after, but it was rarely ever visited by the citizens of Storybrooke. That was fine with Mr. Gold, though. Now wasn't the time.
But locked in back room of the library was large brown book, the title written in a simple yet elegant way: Once Upon A Time.
