The heroes moved closer, as they stood back to back; the sea of hooded soldiers grew ever closer, their swords drawn. Rumple's mind raced, trying to figure a way out of all this. Alaek did the only thing he could think of; he rotated his wrist, and blew out an aqua green smoke into the air, smoke that matched the color of his eyes. The smoke washed over the soldiers, causing them to heave and cough violently.
"What is this?" asked Charming, as he covered his mouth.
"Smoke screen," said Alaek simply.
"Yes, but what is it going to do?" asked Snow.
"Buy us more time to think. I suggest we start doing that now," said Alaek.
Alaek was absolutely right, all this smoke screen was doing was buying the time, and if Rumple couldn't figure out a way to break their curse then they would all die; he refused to fight children. The smoke cleared, and the coughs died down, they began to rise, and that's went the marvelous idea hit him like a steel wall. With no time to spare, he turned to Belle.
"Belle….. kiss me. I mean….. really kiss me," he pleaded.
Belle looked at him with mild disbelief, she knew they were in a dire situation, but to ask her to make out with him, when they were inches away from death was a bit much.
"You are my true love, yes? Kiss me," he said, his eyes panicking.
That's when she understood him; the most powerful magic of all, they could free the kids. Belle grabbed his face, and kissed him hard. A burst of light rippled over the crowd. Aleak looked around, had after hood was boring ripped off like dominos, revealing the many different faces underneath. They all looked around as if they had just woken up from a long dream. Belle broke the kiss, and smiled lovingly at her husband.
"No!" screamed the white witch.
She materialized in front of them, her face displayed rage unlike any other.
"It's over, my lady. You don't have to die today. Surrender," said Charming.
"Never! I'd rather die. You may have me this time, but I swear I will rip your heart out and crush it into dust….. Now!" she yelled into the rafters.
An arrow shot from the ceiling, it headed straight for Belle. With uncommon speed, Alaek pushed her out the way; the arrow struck him in the right side of his chest. Rumple watched him fall to the ground, it was as if he was falling in slow motion, he wanted to run and catch but, the shock of what had just happened kept him still. Alaek fell on the cold stone floor, the arrow stuck firmly in his chest.
"Al!" screamed Belle, as she crawled to his side. Rumple finally found his footing; he raced over to them. Alaek let out raged breaths; obviously the arrow had pierced his lung. Rumple knew he had to act quickly; he grasped the arrow, ready to pull it out, then he was hit by a second arrow, it pierced his shoulder. The force of the blow knocked him off his feet; he landed a few feet away from Belle.
"Rumple!"
"Belle! Stay back!" he shouted.
Belle stopped in her tracks, just as another arrow missed her by centimeters. Tiberius dropped down from the rafter, his bow in hand. This man was trying was trying to kill Belle, he took aim again; Rumple felt his rage boil over, then he blacked out.
In the blink of an eye, Rumple tackled him, and slammed him through the wall and into the next room. Belle, or anyone for that matter, had had any idea what just happened. Rumple was down, face first into the stone. Belle looked over at Charming and Snow, who were coughing from the amount of dust. She turned to look at Rumple again, but he was gone. It was odd, he was surely injured, she only looked away for a second. A black blur zoomed past in her peripheral vision; she could barely keep up with it, her head moved back and forth with the figure. The smoke from the debris filtered into the next room, the figured stopped suddenly, Belle's eyes widened; Tiberius coughed violently, as he slowly rose to his feet. He could barely make out the dark figure of Rumplestiltskin, standing absolutely still; he was staring aimlessly into the floor. The dust cleared, and he suddenly realized what happened; his heart sank, and his stomach turned inside out. Belle shook her head in disbelief. The Dark One, green flesh and all, stood before them. He slowly raised his head, and opened his eyes; his piercing gaze shook Tiberius' core, he had already drawn his sword. The Dark One smiled evilly, baring his ugly fangs, then he disappeared into thin air. Tiberius jumped, then circled the area, his sword at the ready. Where did he go? He briefly turned, and almost shot out of his skin when he saw The Dark One standing inches away from him. Tiberius leaped back, and lashed at him, but he disappeared once again. Belle looked on nervously; she barely noticed the fight between Snow, Charming, and the lady of the Lake.
"Come on, Rumple. Take control. You're better," she whispered.
She looked down at Alaek, who was still unconscious, but still breathing. Tiberius' head swiveled back and forth, he backed up slowly, then he felt searing pain erupting from his lower abdomen, it was like thousands of electric bolts running through his entire body, he looked down to see the dark One's hand sticking out of his stomach, covered in his own blood. Tiberius' eyes grew wider, his vision began to blur and go in and out of focus; he slowly turned his head, the cold blooded monster was smiling viscously at him. The Dark One pulled his hand, and licked the blood off. Tiberius coughed up heaps of blood, his whole body went numb, his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and darkness came; he collapsed.
"That's enough. It's over," came Rumple's voice inside the Dark One's head.
"You're no fun," said the Dark One.
He looked up at the ceiling; the Dark One faded away, and he was Rumplestiltskin once again. He looked at Belle; she was smiling softly at him, then looked down at Tiberius, who was face down, drowning in a river of his own blood. He knelt beside him, and placed a glowing hand over his wound.
"What are you doing?!" screamed the Dark One.
"Giving him a second chance."
Tiberius grunted, and fell into a deep sleep, as his wound glowed a bright red, and closed shut. Rumple rose to his feet; he turned just as Belle was wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him, it was sloppy, but it was hard, and in this kiss he felt all the love and pride that radiated from her in that moment. She broke away; they lovingly pressed their foreheads together, and closed their eyes. The warmth of their love radiated off them like the sun.
"No! You can't!" screamed the white witch.
Rumple and Belle turned, and joined the others in the adjoining room. Alaek was standing hunched over, clutching his wound tightly, he was paler then snow. The now mind free soldiers were circling the Lady of the Lake, all were intent on revenge. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers; a spark formed, and she threw it to the ground. Rumple knew what was coming; he grabbed Alaek, then Belle, and shielded them with his own body. A cloud of red smoke shrouded them, and an invisible force knocked every one of their feet. There was a moment of violent coughing, then all was quiet. Rumple turned on his knees, the witch was gone. He cursed to himself; he knew they would see her again in the near future, something he had hoped to avoid. Belle helped Alaek up, and slung his arm over her shoulder. He hung there dazed, like a drunken fool. The rest of them all let out cheers of joy. Rumple stood alone in the middle, he held out his hand to silence them.
"Everyone! You all earned this victory today, but as I'm sure you are aware; you were all forced to grow up faster than you wanted. I can change you back, I will not force you, but if you wish to be changed back, form a group on my right, those that wish to remain adults, stay on the left,' he said.
They all looked around at each other. Belle watched them all move to the right side of the room. It was a proud moment for all of them.
'Wait," said Belle.
Rumple turned to look at her curiously.
"Mulan, can you go and get Chip?"
Mulan nodded, and ran out to fetch the young prisoner. She returned several moments later with Chip in tow; he limped slowly over to Rumple.
"You must be Chip. You're mother misses you very much," said Rumple.
"Thank you so much for this, Sir Rumplestiltskin."
Chip kneeled with the others; Rumple rubbed his hands together, and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply, then reached out; magic dust erupted from his hands, and cascaded over them like golden rain. Their bodies shrunk lower and lower until they were all children again.
"Come. Time for us all to return home," said Rumple warmly.
They all cheered and hugged each other. Belle took her husband's hand.
"Maurice….. Rumple we have to get back to him," whispered Alaek.
"Yes. My father was tortured. He's hurt bad. We have to get him back home to a doctor fast," said Belle panicking.
"Okay. Don't worry. We will…. Everything is going to be fine," said Rumple.
They followed the rest out of the war zone, and down to the dungeons.
