Chapter 10: Whose Fate? Which Fate? What Fate?

~ The Real World ~

Rumple looked at Isabelle hopelessly,

"So... The chest is empty because you truly don't have any means or urge to free me from my curse" he concluded sadly as Isabelle finished off her hot chocolate, placing the mug down within the sink,

"That would be true except the chest isn't empty" she corrected as she washed the mug, dried it before putting it away and wiped down the counter as Rumple looked at her confused,

"I... I don't understand" he murmured, opening the chest for her to see,

"It is empty" he pointed out, looking towards her to see her smile sadly,

"... Back in the wish realm when I fled my fate... I ran into your son... The brother I probably would have come to know if fate had worked out differently" Isabelle began,

"Gideon..." Rumple murmured causing Isabelle to nod,

"He didn't know who I was but we became fast friends... He told me of his childhood and told me of how his parents had taught him that it is what's on the inside that truly counts... So now I advice you, father... Look inside the chest again" she encouraged gently with a sad smile as a soft silence fell between them as Rumple slowly turned back to the chest and reached inside only to find the bottom of the chest was simply a magical illusion which broke instantly when he touched it and he was able to retrieve an old photo; Displaying the image of Belle holding a new born baby as his other realm self sat by her side, crying tears of joy and Rumple couldn't bring himself to speak as he looked at Isabelle with a numb expression and she approached, taking the photo from him gently,

"The chest was a metaphor to teach you that although my actions so far made it seem like my motivation to help you was nothing... The truth was that I have always held the intention of helping you... You're my papa and I love you so much... This has been my reason for doing all of this. The thought of killing you... Breaks my heart... But if this is truly what you want then... I shall do it for you, papa" she told him and held out her free hand causing Rumple to smile at her in relief as he retrieved the dagger from his bag and handed it to her causing her to smile sadly with a nod,

"Thank you... Isabelle" he told her before watching her turn towards Killian with a sad smile,

"The only regret I have is that I won't be able to have more time with you" Isabelle told him and Killian looked at her sadly,

"This isn't fair... Surely there must be another way" he pleaded weakly and she cupped his cheek softly,

"I'm afraid not, Captain... This is one voyage I have to take alone and unfortunately it's a one way trip" she told him before leaning up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek,

"My final gift to you..." she told him before whispering something in his ear and a tear fell down his cheek and he nodded as she pulled away before turning to Rumple,

"... Say hit to mama for me?" she requested and Rumple nodded with a peaceful smile,

"Of course" he told her,

"... I love you, Papa" Isabelle whispered as a tear fell down her cheek and thrust the dagger forward but her actions stopped midway causing her to frown,

"Wh... What?... I don't understand" she murmured and both Killian as well as Rumple frowned in confusion,

"I... I can't move" Isabelle murmured but then cried out in pain, causing her to drop the dagger and Killian quickly supported her with an expression of concern,

"Isabelle, what's wrong?" Killian demanded as Rumple quickly cupped her cheek in attempts to see what was wrong but Gothel suddenly appeared in a cloud of smoke with a smirk on her face and a glowing white heart in her hand,

"Oh she's fine. Just a little heartburn" Gothel mocked, applying slight pressure to the enchanted organ in her hand as she admired it causing Isabelle to wince more,

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Rumple yelled but Gothel continued to smirk,

"Oh just look at that blissful black smoke swirling within this precious white heart... Pure and precious but still tainted with the ultimate darkness. Darkness that will soon be mine once released which is my I'm afraid I can't let her kill you, Dearie because her heart will break if she does and then the magic dies with her" she admitted with a mocking sympathetic tone as she knelt down and picked up the twisted dagger and sliced Isabelle's heart with it causing her to cry out in agony but Gothel smiled blissfully,

"Ahhhh you see?... Even the most delicate of hearts can be plunged into darkness" she said, allowing them to see the black mist flowing from the dagger into Isabelle's heart,

"Well there's so much to do and so little time. We must be going now. Bye bye, darlings" she bid before vanishing in a cloud of smoke, taking Isabelle's weak form with her.

DAMMIT GOTHEL! Review for chapter 11!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996