Regina left the Inn, deep in thought. Comets colliding, combining worlds, the end times…If Storybrooke really was in some sort of danger, she needed to find out, and fast. There were all kinds of spells she could try to help her find out if anything was going on, but she needed to do some research first.
As Regina rounded a corner to reach her car, she heard a familiar voice say, "Hello, Regina."
Rumpel was standing outside, leaning against her car.
"Hello." Regina said, "What are you doing here?"
"What's the matter, Regina? Are you surprised to see me?" Rumpel asked.
"Not particularly. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Rumpel studied his fingernails, "I was just wondering if my presence surprised you."
"Considering you always show up at the most inconvenient of times, no." Regina answered, "Now do you have a point, or can I leave? I have business to attend to, and I'd like to get home before midnight."
"What kind of business?" Rumpel asked.
"I don't think I'll tell you just yet." Regina replied.
"No matter. But does this business have anything to do with what happened to me yesterday?" Rumpel rubbed some dirt of his nails and eyed Regina intently.
"What do you mean, what happened to you?" Regina asked.
"Well surely you know, Regina." Rumpel said, giving her that crooked, gold-toothed smile, she was all to familiar with, "I was assaulted, so to speak, by someone, and I really don't take kindly to that."
"Assaulted?" Regina raised her eyebrows, "By who?"
"I was hoping you could help me figure that one out, Regina." Rumpel said.
"Believe me, if I knew the person who assaulted you, I'd be congratulating them, that is if, they were still alive."
"Oh, come on, Regina," Rumpel pushed himself off her car, "You've been wanting me gone for some time now, haven't you? How exactly did you do it? A spell? A potion? Did you have one of your minions do it for you?"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." Regina said.
Rumpel opened his mouth to say more, then, seeing the look on Regina's face, paused and squinted at her, "You really don't, do you?"
Regina continued to give him a look of annoyed confusion.
"Never mind, then." Rumpel tilted his head, "Forgive me for wasting your time. Goodnight, Regina."
"Goodnight…" Regina said slowly as she watched him disappear into the distance.
Emma was locking up her car when she heard someone come up behind her. She sighed loudly, her breath condensing the cold night air, "What is it you want?"
"Perhaps you can help me with that, Miss Swann." Rumpel said.
"Can this wait until tomorrow? I'm kind of tired." Emma said. It was late, and she really didn't feel like talking to Rumpelstiltskin.
"No, I'd rather settle this right now." Rumpel said.
"Fine." Emma relented. She turned around, shoving her hands into her coat pockets, "What is it?"
"Yesterday someone attacked me. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now would you?" Rumpel asked, cocking his head.
"Someone attacked you, gee." Emma said, "I wonder who would do that."
"So do I." Rumpel said.
"You mean you didn't pulverize, curse or otherwise punish this person?" Emma asked.
"No I don't think so."
"That doesn't sound like you." Emma said.
"No, it really doesn't." Rumpel mused, almost to himself.
"So why are you telling me this." Emma asked.
"I was hoping you could help me figure that out." Rumpel said, "We've had some falling-outs in the past -"
"You think?" Emma said.
"-I've done some things to you. But I never imagined you'd find a way to get me back."
"Get you back?" Emma asked, confused.
"Yes, Miss. Swann. Or should I say the Savior? The heroine? The girlfriend of the man who's heart I almost crushed? Tell me, did you do it for the good of the town or was it just plain vengeance?"
"I'm not sure I follow you." Emma said.
Rumpel scoffed, "Really? Because it would be exactly the thing for the Savior to do – wouldn't it? Rid the world of one more bad guy?"
"Ok, I'm just going to go inside now." Emma said as turned away and started to march up the steps to her apartment.
"Wait!" There was a rush of air and Rumpel appeared in front of her, gripping her arms tightly, "Was it you? Were you the one who did it? Did you try to kill me?" he demanded.
"Just so you know, I have no idea what you're talking about. And if you don't let go of me and stop rambling like a crazy person, I'm going to throw you down this flight of stairs." Emma said.
Rumpel's face softened, and he smiled, "They'll be no need for that, Miss Swann." He said. He snapped his fingers and vanished into a cloud of purple smoke.
Emma shook her head and went inside.
So neither Regina nor Emma was responsible for his death. Rumpel thought as he strolled into his pawn shop. That eliminated two suspects, but there was still a town full of people who didn't especially like him. He would have to do some more interviewing tomorrow. Surely his murderer hadn't gone too far. Why would they if they had killed the infamous Rumpelstiltskin? At any rate, it was time to get some rest. He would continue his search in the morning, and when he finally found his killer, Rumpel was going to make them very, very, sorry for what they had done.