Belle woke to find herself lying on something rocky with her hands tied. She could hear voices and kept her eyes closed trying to hear anything useful.

"You'd better have not knocked her out too hard we need her conscious to give the message." said a sinister, sophisticated voice

"Relax dahling, she shouldn't be out much longer." answered a different voice.

"Enough waiting," scoffed a third female and suddenly Belle felt water get splashed on her face.

She gasped and sat up.

"See she's awake," said the second voice. Blinking Belle looked at her surroundings they were on a rocky cliff and in front of her were three women.

One had dark skin and was dressed in green most notably she had tentacles coming from beneath her dress. Some sort of sea witch? She'd read about one called Ursula.

The second woman had black and white hair and a sharp face. Her eyes were cold and soulless. She wore a fur coat over a black dress and red heels.

Lastly was perhaps the most recognizable woman. She was tall with pale skin and high cheek bones. She wore a black dress and black horned headdress. In her hand was a staff with a dragon on top. The distinctive appearance meant she could only be the fallen fairy, Maleficent.

Belle straightened as best she could, trying not to show any fear despite the fact that her heart was hammering a mile a minute.

"What do you want from me?" she asked.

"Not even asking for an introduction? Dahling?" said the two-toned haired woman.

"Well, I can already guess your companions so it seems you are the only one left in obscurity. With two out of three introductions hardly seem necessary," answered Belle defiantly.

The woman's eyes flashed in fury at Belle's implication that she was of lesser importance than the other two. She strode forward and slapped Belle the diamond ring on her finger cutting deep into Belle's cheek. Ursula laughed.

"So Rumplestiltskin's maid has some bite."

"Careful Cruella, we need her in one piece," warned Maleficent firmly. If Belle were to guess she'd put the former fairy as the most powerful of three followed by the Sea Witch. She had no idea what Cruella brought to the table though so she could hardly discount her. Certainly not with that ruthless gleam in her eye.

"Pity." snapped Cruella. Maleficent turned to Belle.

"In answer to your question. It's not so much what we want from you as with you. Rumplestiltskin has something we want and you're the leverage we need to get it."

Bait then. Thought Belle now mentally going over what sort of object those women would want. Rumplestiltskin had any number of dangerous magical items. But it had to be important if they were kidnapping her to get it rather than making a regular deal.

"Now you're going to record a little message for your dear master telling him to come and get you in exchange for a certain gauntlet," said Ursula.

Belle's eyes widened as she remembered what the gauntlet did. In the hands of these women, it would be immensely dangerous. So she made a decision.

"No."

"What?" snarled Cruella.

"I said no. I won't help you get that object." replied Belle.

"Even if it means your death?" asked Ursula.

"Even then," answered Belle. Aside from not wanting them to get the gauntlet she hated the idea of leading Rumplestiltskin into a trap. Truthfully that idea worried her even more than what the women would do with the gauntlet. She obviously was scared of the idea of dying but surely it was better she die than the many others that would as a consequence of them getting the gauntlet.

"If you say so," said Cruella gesturing to Ursula whose tentacles began to snake towards Belle.

"Wait!" commanded Maleficent.

"So, she won't give the message. Rumplestiltskin already suspects my involvement at this time so I might as well just confirm his suspicions and send the message myself." Belle's heart sunk. So much for holding them off.

She supposed she just have to try and think of some way of escape although that seemed about as likely as Rumplestiltskin falling to his knees and declaring her his true love.

Anyway, they were all presuming Rumplestiltskin would actually come for her. Of course, she knew they had been getting on fairly well but who was to say that her value out-weighed that of a powerful magical object like the gauntlet. It was entirely possible Rumplestiltskin might choose to cut his losses and just leave her.

If that was the case well, at least these women wouldn't get the gauntlet. Belle supposed she'd just have to wait to see if he came at the appointed time.

OUAT

Rumplestiltskin strolled outside to the laundry area. Belle had not returned to the castle yet and he was...concerned.

Yes, yes, he had teleported her randomly outside because she was as per usual getting far too close to the truth of matters for comfort, but normally that would just lead to exasperation and perhaps a cold pot of tea rather than full on avoidance and certainly not for this long a period of time.

"I hope you haven't done anything foolish dearie like trying to run away!" he called loudly hoping to provoke her if she were nearby. Belle always seemed to take offense to the implication that she would break their deal.

But there was no answer. He pushed his way through the clothing lines and reach the edge of the wards. Or where the wards keeping people IN should have been. Someone had interfered with them.

"Belle!" he called sharply now getting considerably worried. She really wasn't stupid enough to run off (especially while he was still IN the castle for god's sake!) not to mention without provisions, which means something must have happened.

Rumplestiltskin heard cawing above him and looked up to see a raven circling above. It dropped something at his feet. Rumplestiltskin realized it to be a sand dollar and upon picking the object up an image was projected from the dollar. An image of Maleficent.

"Hello, Rumplestiltskin, I was going to have your maid send this message but as she's being uncooperative at the moment, I'll be the one passing it on. It's quite simple I have your girl and if you want her back alive, you'll bring the Gauntlet of Camelot to the base of Demon's Bluff at midnight tonight." The image briefly changed to show Belle who was bound and gagged. She had a cut on her cheek and looked scared but there was also a touch of defiance in her gaze. Then the image swapped back to Maleficent.

"The choice is yours but the consequences will be severe." The sand dollar disintegrated. Rumplestiltskin let out a snarl and looked up at the raven.

"You tell you're Mistress to beware because she's JUST CROSSED A LINE!"

The bird flew off and Rumplestiltskin teleported back inside to get the gauntlet. All he could think of was that he had to save Belle before Maleficent did anything to her. He was so worried he didn't even both trying to deny his strange feelings as he usually would.

Don't do it. Don't give up the gauntlet for some pretty face. It will only prove you to be weak," hissed the voices in his head but he shoved them down. Belle was in danger and right now that was all that mattered.

OUAT

Rumplestiltskin appeared on the cliff at the appointed time in his usual swirl of crimson smoke. It was dark making the crashing sea below and the three, pointed stones standing in front of him looking like giant graves appear even more sinister than usual. The only light came from two fires burning on the edge of the cliff.

"I have what you want dearie! Now show yourself." he called. There was a moment of silence and then Belle stumbled out from behind on of the giant rocks her hands tied. There was a shimmering purple veil over her that Rumplestiltskin recognized as a spell to stop him from simply teleporting the two of them away.

He met her blue eyes which were filled with terror but also a little surprise and with a jolt Rumplestiltskin realized she hadn't been certain he would come for her.

"Rumplestiltskin help there..." whatever she was about to say was cut off as a mocking voice filled the air.

"Yes, Rumplestiltskin do help her!" a flock of ravens swarmed and coalesced into the form of a tall woman dressed in black.

"Maleficent, I am impressed. Didn't think you had it in you."

"I'm not here for your praise, give me the gauntlet and you can have your wench back." Rumplestiltskin felt a rush of fury at the insult to Belle who he noticed was now flicking her eyes off to the side as if attempting to tell him something without speaking.

"Well, seeing as you asked so nicely." Rumplestiltskin raised his hand and in an instant Maleficent was hovering in the air choking.

"You thought you could steal from the Dark One and live? Fatal mistake dearie. Any last words?" he snarled.

"I'm...not...alone." she gasped and too late what Belle had been trying to communicate to him became clear as a long green tentacle reach out and began to wrap around Belle's neck and torso.

"The Sea Witch." He growled as Ursula stepped out from behind one of the rocks.

"Such a pretty thing. A shame I'm going to have to crack her pipes."

"Harm one hair on her head and Maleficent burns!" snapped Rumplestiltskin in warning. He'd expected Maleficent but not Ursula. However, if the sea witch was here than there was one other who was likely to be joining them. As if on cue the snide voice of Cruella De Vil rang out.

"Then Ursula will kill your maid and where will that leave us?"

"Cruella," he trilled dangerously. "Thought I caught a wif of desperation and gin! I must say I'm surprised to see you all here. Last time we crossed paths it looked like things weren't going your way. And unless you hand back my maid, they won't be this time either."

"Shall I get you a stepstool so you can look in my eyes when you threaten me?" snapped Cruella.

"Oh, I don't need to threaten you dearie. It took three of you to get this far and I promise. It isn't. Far. Enough." he hissed.

"Have it your way. Ursula darling crush the maid's heart." said Cruella. Rumple felt his heart drop as the tentacle around Belle's neck tightened. However to his surprise Belle who still looked terrified managed to choke out.

"Don't...not..worth it..." she was in danger of being killed and yet she was telling him not to trade the gauntlet to save her. The voices in his mind screamed in agreement but a strange feeling Rumple couldn't quite describe overpowered the voices. Suddenly all that mattered was Belle's life.

He snarled and dropped Maleficent tossing the gauntlet to Cruella. Immediately Ursula stopped strangling Belle who sagged with relief taking deep gasps of air.

"That was a rather risky endevour for an old glove dearie." he said trying to sound blase

"The risk was worth it. For too long we've lived in a world where the heroes always win." said Ursula.

"The gauntlet shall reveal our enemy's weakness's and we shall be the victors." finished Cruella.

"Let her go." Maleficent told her cronies as she waved a hand removing the spell over Belle. Ursula shoved Belle towards Rumple who stepped forward to catch her holding tight to reassure himself and her that she was safe. The Queens of Darkness disappeared in a swirl of grey smoke.

"Why, would you do that? I mean with that object..."

"They still won't be able to harm you," said Rumplestiltskin firmly and it was a promise as much as a reassurance those women would never get near his Belle again. Belle tilted her head looking surprised and confused.

"Why do you care about me?" Rumplestiltskin froze unsure how to answer not missing the fact that her words mirrored his own from a few weeks prior. He also realized he hadn't released her. Quickly he let go.

"I don't. But if anyone's going to crush your heart it's going to be me." he snapped though even as he said, them the words felt wrong and unconvincing.

Author's Note: So I wanted to make Belle a bit more defiant and less of a damsel here. Obviously she needed to be rescued but I feel like it was more in character for the Belle we were originally introduced to (and certainly the one I'm writing) to be a bit more defiant and as proactive about the situation as possible rather than jumping straight to begging. Also, can we all just admire how adorable Rumple's look of concern for her is near the end of that scene when he says they still won't be able to harm her? Anyway, so a slightly different take on this episode. I should clarify that while I am standing by my decision to end this series after season 3 I may end up using some of the flashback scenes that we got in later seasons. Thanks for reading! If you like the story PLEASE leave a note in the comments! Until next time!