Author's note: I neglected to mention a detail about the universe of the Hearts series. This story and it's sequels takes place in the world of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. The reason for this is that OUaTiW is a canonically alternate universe, having alternate versions of Jafar and Alice as of the release of Season 7 (side note, who else is feeling conflicted about the new season?). It has been established that Storybrooke does exist in this dimension, but aside from the fact that Will Scarlet doesn't live there anymore, it is completely undefined. Well, I have taken it upon myself to define it. So until proven otherwise (and I doubt A&E will fight me on it), the Hearts series exists in OUaTiW.
Chapter Two: Merciful Endings, Bright Beginnings
Rumple wiped his sweat dripping face with a handkerchief, his will working overtime to reign in the Darkness. The parasitic entity writhed happily within him, like a well fed python curling around its' digesting prey. He only hoped It would be content with the offering he'd supplied, granting him temporary peace. He shuddered as his gaze fell upon the still twitching form of Zelena, the Witch still breathing in spite of what she'd endured. Rumple hated the woman, hated that she'd enslaved him, violated him, took his son from him forever. But as he looked upon her now, he felt only a detached sort of pity.
When Rumple had unleashed the consuming power of the Darkness, he hadn't quite known what to expect. It was not an ability he'd ever used before, having no need for it. However several prior Dark Ones had employed it to great effect, using it to absorb the life force of targets while causing them unspeakable torment. Such as it was now with Zelena. Roughly twenty minutes after the process had begun, Zelena's screams had grown so violent that her jaw distended, causing the corners of her mouth to split along her cheeks. It was a gruesome sight, the torn visage of the Wicked Witch. But upon the fifty minute mark the shrieking cries softened to wet choking noises deep in the redheads' throat, and the convulsions wracking her body had calmed to the occasional tremor. There was little left of the maniacal villain that had terrorized Storybrooke for the past month, only a ruined shell.
With a sigh, Rumple waved a hand over Zelena's face, repairing the ghastly damage, "I'm not sorry for what I've done to you now," he whispered, "You deserved it. But...I am sorry for my part in what led you to this moment." No time to dwell on that however. It was time to finish this. From his coat Mr. Gold drew a small vial. Within was a fast acting poison, used by many royals as a last ditch effort to avoid capture by enemies. Opening the cap, Rumple poured the liquid down Zelena's throat before placing the vial in her hand, "Rest now, Zelena. If you see your mother in the Underworld, give her my regards." Rumple watched as the choking sounds softened to nothing as the light faded from emerald eyes. It was as they said in that movie Belle was once so fond of. Ding dong, the Wicked Witch is dead.
With trembling fingers Rumple closed Zelena's eyelids, before standing up and teleporting back out of the cell. Now there was only to cover his tracks. Weaving his magic around the room, he cleaned every finger print he'd left over the past hour, erasing any physical proof. Finally he modified the security footage on the camera. It would show only Zelena pacing through her cell, fuming and ranting before finally breaking into tears and taking the poison herself. No one would ever know the Wicked Witch of the West was murdered. His task complete, the Dark One disappeared in a puff of smoke.
-Brave and Brittle-
Belle had been unable to sleep waiting for her True Love to return. Needing something to distract her, she'd made a pot of tea and lay in bed trying to make some headway on the latest book she'd discovered, A Song of Ice and Fire. But her brain would not shut up, worry surging through her like a raging river. She had become an accessory to murder, enabling Rumple to take a human life. For so long the librarian had tried to keep Rumple from indulging his baser tendencies, demanding that he be the man she knew he could be rather than the monster that others saw. But Belle had thrown all her morals and thoughts of good and evil aside because her love had been so deeply wounded. And what was worse, she couldn't find it within herself to be sorry. Zelena had been a deranged villain, but did she not deserve a chance to redeem same as Rumple and Regina? Ostensibly yes, and yet Belle had chosen to condemn her to death.
Perhaps it was simply the nature of the Land Without Magic. In Misthaven very clear lines were drawn between good and evil, the spectrum only running in black and white. Here it seemed there were no pure heroes, only people doing the best they could. The lines of morality were blurred, and between black and white lay endless shades of gray.
The former noblewoman was shaken from her musings as her True Love returned. Belle took in the sight of the Dark One, concern filling her. Rumple looked exhausted, perhaps for the first time since she met him. His hands trembled as he stood at the foot of their bed, and his eyes...his eyes seemed darker. As if his pupils were dilated enough to swallow his iris's. She said nothing, waiting for any information he wished to volunteer. At last he spoke, "It's done. Zelena won't hurt anyone ever again."
In an instant Belle was moving, rising from the bed to wrap Rumple in a warm embrace. His arms wound around her waist, burrowing his face in her chestnut hair. For a time they were silent, simply holding each other. At last Belle pulled away, just enough to look into her lovers' eyes. Her arms stayed firmly around his torso as she began her questions, "Are you...are you all right?"
"No. Not yet...but I will be."
Belle nodded her understanding, "What happened?"
The former spinner gazed back into the eyes of the librarian, "To slay her...I used a power I've never tried before. It wasn't pleasant, but the Darkness demanded I let it punish her as well."
Belle's brow furrowed, and she asked the question she'd never before had the courage to voice, "Rumple, what exactly is the Darkness? I read through everything I could find, all the books in your collection. None of them have any details about how your curse works."
"That's because it's not a curse, Belle." Rumple moved them to sit on the bed, still holding her close. She felt herself relax into his arms. This was good. This was security. There was nothing but the two of them, connected by their love for one another. Rumple ran his fingers through her hair as he explained, "It's a living entity. A parasitic spirit that possesses It's host utterly. No Dark One has ever managed to suss out where It came from, or how It became linked to the Dagger. The Darkness keeps that information close. All I know...all we know, is that it Is ancient, evil, and hungry. Wherever It came from...It was never meant to be here."
Belle shivered and scooted closer, "So...all those terrible things you did...It made you do them?"
Rumple only gave a melancholy shake of his head, "I'm afraid not. The Darkness will influence the host, twist their perception of the world and warp their minds and bodies. But ultimately, my choices were my own."
The brunette pulled herself up into the Dark One's lap, cupping his face in her palm, "You may be the Dark One, but you're still a human being." Belles eyes sparkled with unshed tears, "And human beings aren't perfect. I wanted you to be this person who would never make mistakes, never be anything but good. But now I realize...you can't be. There's no such thing. I just have to accept you for who you are. The good and the bad." Her voice hitched slightly as she leaned close, pressing her lips to his in a slow kiss. When she pulled away her tears were falling, "And I do. I'm not going to have unfair expectations of you anymore. I love you, Rumplestiltskin." By now Belle was reduced to hiccuping sobs, "I lost you before, many times. I don't want to lose any more time. I want to be with you for the rest of my days. I want you to be the first sight I see in the morning, and the last when I fall asleep. I want to raise a family with you. I want to be your wife."
Rumple gazed at the woman on his lap with adoration, and not a little awe. He never thought this could happen. He knew that Belle always saw the good in him, the heart of the man he once was. But now here she was, accepting him completely. The Dark One was sure if the entity sharing his body hadn't glutted Itself on Zelena's agony, It would be raging against this moment of purest love. But the fiendish essence remained stagnant, for the moment at least. And Rumple would not waste that moment.
Carefully moving Belle back to the bed Rumple rose to his feet, "Wait here." Dashing to his study, Rumple moved aside a painting to an apparently empty wall. Waving his hand, he dispelled the illusion cloaking his private safe. A snap of his fingers released the spellbound locks, causing the door to swing open. There it was, the small velvet box he'd kept safe since before Neverland. He was pleasantly shocked when he discovered this new curse had restored all his possessions, especially this one. Plucking the box from the safe, Rumple reset the protections and returned to the bedroom. Holding the box behind his back, he smiled at the love of his life, "I've waited so very long to do this" Belle stared back at him in mute wonder. Rumple knelt before his Beauty, presenting the small box, "Belle...you have brought me more happiness than a beast like myself deserves." He held up a hand to stop her protests, continuing, "I'd long ago given up any hope of happiness, aside from finding Bae. But then I met a noblewoman, full of courage and honor, willing to sacrifice herself for the safety of her people. I know I may not have shown it, nor even realized it myself, but I think that was the moment I first fell in love with you. And ever since that love has grown, filling my dark heart with joy and light." Metaphorical light of course, "Belle French, my True Love," Rumple opened the lid to reveal a beautiful yet humble diamond ring, "Will you marry me?"
He'd barely finished speaking when he found his arms once again full of a crying woman. But he knew these were tears of happiness, "Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" Belle exclaimed as she showered his face with kisses. The Dark One's arms encircled his now future wife, holding her close as tears of joy ran down his face. The dismal past was behind them now, it was time to look forward to their happily ever after.
-Brave and Brittle-
The spell of Time Travel was not so simple as the Wicked Witch of the West believed. It was archaic, ancient even. And there are many secrets to it, lost both by accident and design. The most crucial at this moment was the catalyst. Unbeknownst to Zelena, there was a secondary condition to the final sacrifice needed to create the portal. The death could be either an innocent life...or the life of the caster.
As the redheaded Witch's body lay cooling on the floor of the cell, a viridian mist seeped from her parted lips, drifting through the bars out through the nearby window. It formed a serpentine shape, increasing in speed as it floated over the town of Storybrooke, making it's way to the farm where Zelena once lived...