Sloth: Hello everyone! I hope everyone likes long chapters, because they're starting to get pretty hefty here. I know the first two chapters didn't seem coherent, but I wanted to get a few world building things settled. There's still a bit of world building here, introducing how the VK's met everyone's favorite baby beast. Considering who his father is, just how much of a beast was Ben while he lived in the Enchanted Forest?
Also, a fair warning, this is where things start to get...angsty. This story's going to feature a lot of dark themes, such as implied child abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempts. Starting now is when those themes begin to come into play, so fair warning.
Well, enjoy!
Chapter Four. Feed the Beast
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Rumpelstiltskin's Castle. Many Years Ago
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A loud screech of terror broke the silence of the Dark Castle.
Of all the things that could have gone wrong while the VK's were raiding the castle, being accosted by the furniture was not something that crossed their minds. As Carlos tried to fend off the barking foot rest, Jay let out a battle cry as he took an axe to a stampeding wardrobe. Dude barked and yipped angrily at a tea pot that hopped around him, earl grey slouching around inside.
"Mal, I know you said this would be easy," Evie ducked the clock that hopped at her face. It hit the curtains and harmlessly rolled down. She watched as it tried to get back up and swiftly ran to kick it across the hall. "But how are we losing to a furniture?!"
A broom swatted her and other cleaning supplies dogged piled on her from above.
Mal whipped back as a suit of armor tried to attack her. It's weapon of choice had long since been confiscated by Jay, but that didn't stop it from shambling towards Mal like a zombie. Enraged, she twirled her hand, summon a fireball. She hurled it at the suit of armor with enough force to shatter the armor to bits. She smirked at the destruction before brushing back her hair. "What are you talking about? I'm on a roll."
Jay came over and knocked away the broom and feather dusters that were ambushing Evie. Helping her up, he turned around and swiftly buried an axe right into armoire. It fell back, crashing to the floor unmoving. "Can we just find the heart and get going?"
Dude trotted over, shaking the tea pot by its spout. Mal smiled at the little dog, bending down to pick up the tea pot and pet the dog. It wasn't until they heard Carlos shouting that they realized there was still work to do.
"Help!"
The younger boy was being dragged by a living pile of linen.
"Carlos!"
They ran after their friend. For a living clothing, it seemed to move quickly, dragging Carlos by his leg as it turned corners. The chase didn't end until they reached a dining hall. On the dining table, a candelabra hopped up and down while plates and dishes danced in delight. It would have been humorous if there wasn't a suit of armor sharping a carving knife. Upon seeing sharp instruments, Carlos grabbed onto the door frame, turning to his friends while shrieking, "they're gunna eat me!"
"I got ya, Buddy!" Jay charged forward, using his full weight to throw himself into the linen monster. It fell apart, under garments and cloaks flying into the air like innards. Jay stood up, Carlos hanging onto him like an overgrown koala. He just patting the ivory haired boy.
"Enough of this," Mal declared as she strolled into the room, channeling her inner dragon. If her mother had daughter her one thing, it was how to storm into a room like she owned it. The air bristled around her as she channeled her magic. She might not be a grand sorceress like her mother and her "Queens of Darkness" club, she knew how to get enough magic to do some damage. Throwing her palm out, she unleashed a wave of energy.
It pushed everything back, knocking items off their pedestals, dishing off the table, and broke apart the suit of armor. The magic she unleashed canceled out the enchantment that gave the inanimate objects life. They fell down harmlessly.
"Have I mentioned how bad ass you are?" Evie chuckled as she watched the results of Mal's magic. The dragoness smirked.
"Yes. But I'd like to hear it again."
Mal looked around at the fall objects, her friends spreading out behind her as they took stock of all the items in the dining hall. She picked up a crocodile skinned vest and recoiled at the smell of magic that came off it. Jay came up to her, twirling a golden arrow in his fingers.
"What? They smelling molding?" he asked and he prodded the vest with the arrow. Mal shook her head.
"No. These were washed recently. But it's the enchantment. Whoever made these come to life is an amateur, but they were using some pretty strong stuff." She looked around, her green eyes scanning the room. Everything in here reeked of magic. Whether because it held magic, or because it had been enchanted with mobility. But there was one thing that stood out.
She strolled over to a little tea cup that sat atop an obsidian pedestal. The porcelain tea cup was spotless and beautifully cared for. The only oddity about it was a small chip in it. Curious as to why the Dark One would keep a tea cup of all things, Mal picked it up, holding it in her hands. It was just so…ordinary. "Lame." She said.
Before she could toss it behind her shoulder, a voice called out to her.
"No! Put that down!"
The VK looked around, confused as to where the voice came from. To their surprise, the air shimmered in front of Mal and a cloak fell down. A boy, no older than Mal herself, stood before her. He was dressed in royal blue garments. The kind a prince would be found in. Mal will admit, he was kind of attractive with his slightly messy brown hair and warm hazel eyes. But she wasn't infatuated enough to let him take the tea cup from her. She pulled back just as he reached for it. She backed up, Jay, Evie, and Carlos flanking her.
"Um, and who are you?" she asked.
The boy looked between them. For a minute, it looked like he wasn't going to tell them anything. But then he stood up straight, becoming poised and regal. With his head held high, he replied with a stern and unwavering voice. "I am the ruler of this castle. The Dark One. Now I demand you return my cup and then leave my home."
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Storybrooke, January 10th, 2002
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"Wait, for real?" Ruby asked in utter shock.
Mary Margaret nodded before turning to the source of their gossip.
Benjamin French sat in a booth, picking at the food that had been placed before him not five minutes earlier. They simply watched as the boy pushed around the peas with his fork. He made no motion to eat or even sip at water. Normally something like this would irritate Ruby, especially when the meal was on the house, but after hearing the full story from Mary Margaret, she really didn't have the heart to tell him to get loss.
"Kids can be so mean."
"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself," the school teacher sighed before taking her eyes off the boy and focusing on her cocoa. "He's such a sweet boy. God knows how long he was in that locker."
Ruby shrugged. Kids did a lot of things no one understood. One day they could be sweet and kind, and then the next day they'll try to look up your skirt like a bunch of horny savages. Or start spreading rumors about you just because you had one to many shots. To be perfectly honest, kids were just horrible and she was so happy to be out of school and living the good life.
Ok, well, yes she was a waitress but that was better than homework, right?
"Maybe I should go over and talk to him? See how he's feeling?" Mary Margaret said. Whether she was actually talking to herself or to her friend, Ruby wasn't sure. It was just something she was used to at this point. Mary Margaret would find some interest in a person and spend a few minutes debating whether to go talk to them or not. Sometimes her own thoughts would just come flying out of her mouth with no end in sight. No wonder she couldn't keep a secret.
Fortunately, before Ruby had to restrain her friend to the counter, Granny spoke up.
"Good luck with that." The elderly woman huffed. "That boy hasn't said a word since his mother died."
The two women flinched at that stark reminder. For as long as they could remember, Lacey French had been something of a wild spirit. From being the life of the party to being that person you'd go for a kick. But out of the blue, she came down with a disease that started to make her see things. Started rambling on about someone called Rumple. Though the details were sketchy, from what Ruby could recall, the dementia eventually took her life, leaving behind a son and his alcoholic grandfather.
"Still, someone should talk to him," Mary Margaret insisted. "I mean, you found him sleeping on the street."
Even though it was said in a hush tone, Granny rolled her eyes. "Speak up, I don't think he heard you."
"Ah…well…," the school teacher bit her lips before turning back to look at the boy. She settled with just looking over at Ben. Ruby smiled a little at the school teacher before pushing herself off the counter and strolled to the lone child. At least with her, she could use the excuse of being a waitress to start a conversation.
"Hey. Is there anything else we can get you?" she asked. She frowned at the way he stilled to the voice of her voice. For a minute, he didn't do anything. He just stared at his plate, licking his lips as his fingers tightened around his fork. But finally he looked up and gently shook his head "no". She gave him a sympathetic smile before turning to Mary Margaret and beckoned her to come over. The teacher did so with a smile, even as Granny rolled her eyes and muttered something about leaving well enough alone.
"Hi, Ben. I'm Mary Margaret. I'm a teacher from the elementary school," she introduced. Again, Ben seem to freeze a little, but he respectfully looked up at them. Despite being so tall, he seems to easily shrink in his seat. He stuck his hands between his legs. He opened his mouth, as if to reply, but he simply just closed his mouth and bit his bottom lip.
The two women looked at each other, unsure how to go about this next. With Ruby's encouragement, Mary Margaret sat across the skittish boy. Ruby noted how his eyes seem to dart between the two of them and look everywhere. When Mary Margaret went to offer a kind hand to him, he flinched, pulling slightly back and sank further into the seat.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea, but it was too late now.
"Ben, I uh…understand that Ruby here found you sleeping on the bench. We were wondering if maybe you can tell us why?"
Hazel eyes looked at them, bouncing between the two women like little tennis balls trapped in his head. When they stopped, Ben wasn't focused on them, but rather the door that was beyond Mary Margaret's shoulder. He bit his bottom lip again and Ruby let out a sigh, trying not to sound frustrated.
"We just want to help, Ben," Ruby tried to reassure him. She went to place a reassuring hand, only to have him inch out of the way. Realizing that wouldn't work, Ruby pulled her hand back and placed them on her apron. "It was really cold outside. And I'm sure your grandfather's worried about you."
His head snapped towards her so quickly she was surprised she didn't hear a bone crack. His breathing hitched and he tried to move, but he didn't seem to want to push them out of the way. Ruby took this as a sign that Ben wanted to get out of the diner, like something was after him. But Mary Margaret attempted to calm him down.
"Hey, hey, it's ok. You're not in trouble," she told him. "We're just worried for your safety, Ben."
Her gentle tone and natural calming nature seem to work, easing the agitated boy. Color her impressed, but Ruby could tell he was still ready to bolt.
"Ben, I know that some of the students in class have been bothering. Maybe, if we can get your grandfather in and we can all sit and talk," Mary Margaret suggestion. Ben visibly gulped.
The bell over the door jingled and Ruby immediately went into waitress mode, greeting the new customer with as much enthusiasm as per usual. Which let's be honest, it wasn't much. They were lucky enough to even get a half-hearted greeting.
However, seeing Moe French come in and look around the diner like some sort of hawk, Ruby regretted drawing the man's attention. He came towards them like a shark and his prey seem to shrink even further.
"There you are. What's this I hear about you skipping classes, boy?"
Ruby frowned at the man's tone. She straightened herself up to say something, but Mary Margaret, ever the peace maker, already spoke up.
"Oh! Mr. French, don't blame Benjamin he-"
The man snorted angrily and Ruby had half a nerve to call him out for interrupted Mary Margaret like that.
"Then who's to blame? Hm? He's a grown boy. Needs to take responsibility for his actions."
As he roughly grabbed the boy, Ruby found herself standing up straighter. Somewhere deep down in her, something stirred. Like a beast, rearing its head and ready to bear its fangs at this man. If he could even be called that. But, as quickly as that feeling came, it went away. Like some outside force pushing her back and telling her to just stand there and watch as Moe dragged Ben out of the diner by the collar of his shirt.
Mary Margaret stood up, trying to get Moe to stop, but the words just didn't seem to come out. They were left just standing there, watching as the boy nearly stumbled over his own two feet as he was pulled out of the diner. Frustrated, Ruby let out a snarl before going to keep up Ben's discarded food.
God she hated this town.
What are the odds that the VK's believe Ben's the Dark One?
Don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think.