Hey everybody. I was so surprised that people actually read this. So that was awesome getting reviews and follows and favorites. So thank you everyone! So here's the next chapter. I'm going to try to update every week. It might be hard with school and stuff, but I will definitely try if people want to continue to read it. Thank you again, and tell me what you think about the new chapter.:)

Disclaimer: I don't own once upon a time or the characters. (but if anyone wants to buy me it for Christmas that would be awesome)

She denied what she knew she should do and looked back, and like Orpheus when he looked back at his wife, when he was trying to escape the underworld, she saw her love dying. It hurt her so much, she ran out pushing the doors wide open. Her feet and the hem of her dress hit the dirt path. She was almost to the carriage when she had to stop. A wave of nausea and pain go through her body. The health potion that she took during the trip here had somewhat counteracted the poison plaguing her body but not now. It was wearing off from the inside out. She still looked normal but her organs and blood were becoming more and more infected. She was dying but so was he.

Her mom had taught her a lot of things, but the last thing Belle learned from her was that for the ones you love your willing to do anything, even sacrificing your life if it means saving them. Nothing taught her more about bravery than how her mom stepped in front of her to shield her from the ogres.

She realized she couldn't just run away, not when she saw him like that. She was going to go back and take back all the words she said, tell him the truth. She knew she would probably die, but she couldn't do this for Regina to destroy her true love. She turned sharply and started to run back to the castle and towards Rumpelstiltskin. Her lungs were burning, not used to being expended like this since she had sat idly in the small cage. Her dress also hindered her. She wished she had her leather pants and burgundy blouse she wore when she and Mulan were tracking the beast that turned out to be Philip. She tried to hold the stuff she was carrying and the layers of her dress but she kept stumbling, slowing her down. Something slipped from her weak grasp, and she stopped to pick it up. It was only then did she realize heavy footsteps and the clopping of the horses hooves following her. She looked back to see the guards had abandoned the carriage, to chase her. Her eyes grew wide and she quickly turned trying to reach the castle. She had only taken a few strides when she tripped. The stuff she was carrying tumbled out of her arms. Her knees gave out, she braced herself for the pain to go through her wrist as her hands tried to stop her fall on the hard ground. But it didn't come because instead she felt a big hand swoop down and scoop her up on his horse. She tried to struggle, but guard held her waist firmly. She didn't know what to do, there was no way to get free. There was no way for her to tell Rumple she was sorry. She looked at the castle she could hardly make out his figure through the barely opened doors. She tried one last thing, she didn't know if he would hear her, or if he would come to her aid but she shouted as loud as she could before a gloved hand clamped over her mouth.

"Rumpelstiltskin!"

Rumpelstiltskin knew something was off. As much as he didn't want to believe it when his powers were being taken away, he knew that Belle did love him. After she had left he knew it was the second worst mistake he had made. The first being that he let go of his only son. Bae. He remembered right after the portal closed and Bae disappeared. Moments before he had his son next to him, happy that he had found a way for his father and him to start over with out the darkness, without the magic. And next he stood alone in the dark and coldness of the night. He didn't use his magic to warm himself, he let his body succumb to chilliness. He realized there was no way to undo what he had done, and no way to get Bae back. But he would try and he would find away. He dreamed about Bae every night. They were more like memories than random constructions of the mind. Every time he woke up he became madder and madder at himself. It was the same thing when he let go of Belle. After she left he was a mess, he was angry at himself, worried for her, and very mad at the queen. For the first week he wasn't sure if he should go find her and apologize profusely, or just let her go. She could have a great life back with her father, find a husband, and have a family. But he decided to find her, if just to make sure she was ok, and safe. He began to search for her. Trip after trip just made him frustrated. No one could tell him exactly where she was. His first trip took him to a small village where she probably would have passed on her way to her father's castle. The townspeople were in disorder. Word was that a terrible beast called a Yaoguai had terrorized the outskirts of the village. He pulled a dark hood over his head and walked through the village. People were bustling about, shops were opening. He surveyed the little town noticing a band of rough and angry men gathering at the center of town. Rumpelstiltskin heard those were the men who apparently had set out to find and kill the monster but came back from empty handed. He continued to pass merchants, vendors, and shops till he came to a small bookstore. He smiled at the discovery, if Belle had been here she would've stopped where the books were. He walked in. the place looked pretty dusty, it didn't look like the place got many customers. He looked at the books scanning the titles. He picked up one that had a dark red leather cover. He opened and started reading the first page.

"Can I help you?" he heard a voice say behind him.

"Hopefully." He turned around and saw a short older man. The man's eyes widened when Rumpelstiltskin pushed back the hood of his cloak. Rumpelstiltskin was kind of tired of the immediate look of fear and trembling he received. He missed how Belle didn't look at him like that. There was always brave and fieriness in her eyes, and love. Sure it helped when making his deals, and he had a reputation of turning people into toad or snails. But it wasn't like he killed them for no reason. Just if they stole from him, lied to him, withheld information, hurt someone he loved, were being idiotic, and yes sometimes if they were just plain annoying. The last one actually happened quite often.

"You're, you're the-," the man stuttered.

"Yes. I am Rumpelstiltskin," he said not bothering to roll the R theatrically. "Ahh the dark one, the killer of all men and woman, the beast who eat little children," he imitated the usual responses. He looked at the man expecting terror and trembling, but saw confusion

"The Dark who?" Rumpelstiltskin was taken back. Did this man live under a rock? Most likely he lived in his books. Belle was like that too sometime.

"The Dark One, the most powerful villain in the enchanted forest" Rumpelstiltskin elaborated. For this man not to know who he was shocking.
"I don't know anything about any Dark One." The man stated. "I should look that up," he said half to himself. Rumpelstiltskin looked at him oddly. "A young woman came in here a while back. First customer in years. The town folk aren't too interested in books these days." He explained. "She seemed sad and lost but her eyes lit up when she looked at all the books. She reminded me of my wife," he trailed off sadly. "She told me some of her troubles. How she met a man, different from any other man in this world. She fell in love with him. She said she thought he loved her, but he didn't know if he wanted to love her." Rumpelstiltskin had become really good at hiding his emotions, not showing what he was thinking or feeling. But at the man's words his heart twisted. He did love her, he just couldn't afford to keep her love. Not if he wanted to find Bae. "She didn't say why but she said she left him, and that's why she was here. In this little town." He gestured out a window. "I don't think she meant it to slip out, but she men chained gold skin that sparkled and dark leather. I'm assuming that must be you." Rumpelstiltskin nodded.

"What did she look like?"

"She was young, beautiful. Brown curly hair, bright blue eyes, and a wide smile." That was definitely Belle. Her face popped into Rumpelstiltskin's mind. It was the moment after they kissed. She looked at him so lovingly, but waiting for his reaction. His was probably not the one she expected.

"Do you know where she went or where she is?"

"I'm sorry I can't help you there. She bought a few books and left, didn't say where she was going."

"Thank you." Rumpelstiltskin said. The words semi-foreign.

"You're welcome. She was a nice girl, and if she loved you you're probably not as bad as you say." He was again surprised by this man. He felt the corners of his mouth tug slightly up. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"I don't think so." He paused, looking down. "Actually yes, I would like to by this book. I think she will like it." The old man smiled.

"Funny you picked that one out. She picked that one up and started to read it. Really enjoyed it. I thought she was going to buy that one, but bought one about that nasty beast that's been coming around these parts." He put a few coins on the table, more than what the book was for. Belle was right he did have more gold than he could ever spend, but why not spend it on her. Also the bookstore owner was different than most people he met in his life. He also told him about Belle. Rumpelstiltskin was at the door when he turned around. He knew he was acting out of the ordinary. The dark one didn't offer favors.

"You've helped me, I'll grant you one thing. Is there something that you desire? Riches, more books, and youth?" the old man smiled, and looked around the bookstore.

"These books are better than riches, and as you can see I have an abundance of them. I don't want youth, I lived a good live. To turn back the clock without my…" he trailed off. He didn't want to live another life, not without his wife who died a few years ago. "The thing I desire the most cannot be recovered." Rumpelstiltskin figured he meant his wife.

"There must be something. Everyone wants something." He reasoned. The old man shook his head but then looked straight into Rumpelstiltskin's eyes.

"Tell me. I know you love her, I could see it in your eyes when I was talking of her, and she loves you. So why did she leave?" the way he said it made it sound so simple, but it wasn't. Their story involved darkness, and magic, and years of regret and planning on his part to find his son.

"Because I'm a terrible and dark monster who doesn't deserve her." with that he left leaving the bewildered bookstore owner.

He walked out, noticing it was getting dark. He saw a tavern and decided to go over. He opened the door entering into the mass confusion and crowdedness of the tavern. The place was filthy and dark. He scanned the room for and empty table, finding one in a small corner. He sat down on the bench. He looked with disgust at the grimy table. The table then was covered in a cloud of magic, when it disappeared it was clean. He also used his magic to change his rare skin back to regular flesh. No use in scaring the folks there. A drink was placed before him by a woman who left as fast as she came. He caught the blue in her skirt. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the blue flicker around the room. He was still in search for woman when a group of rowdy men he saw at the center of town walked in to the bar. They walked over to his corner of the place but didn't approach him or notice him. Rumpelstiltskin watched them with growing interest. They all looked weary and angry. They were the same ones from the earlier who were in the center of the town.

"Get up!" they said as they grabbed the two men who were sitting at the table next to Rumpelstiltskin's. "Can't your see we want to sit here," they pushed the men to the ground, who scampered away.

"I'm so fed up with this town," the leader of the group said to the others. "Can't even get a drink when I sit down." He said loudly looking pointedly over to an older woman who had a large tray in hand. She rolled her eyes, seeing the same impatience and intolerance every night as different thugs and brutes came through. She did her usual rounds offering the men and a couple of women large mugs flowing with ale. She finally made her way over to the men and slammed their cups rather forcefully on the table with an artificial smile. The man looked like they were about to get up and say something but she floated away. Rumpelstiltskin let himself get lost in the noise and the dimly lit tavern, until he heard the men complaining again.

"That little witch. Can't believe she tricked us, and got away with it. If it weren't for her warrior friend. If only I could get my hands on her, around her throat." The leader said.

"Perhaps if she did tried to find the beast again she's already dead." One of the members of the group said.

"With her head in that dumb book," another added with disgust, "she probably didn't even see that beast as it ate her." from what the bookshop owner said Rumpelstiltskin knew that not many people would have their head in a book.

"What a shame," a new member of the group spoke up. "Pretty little face."

"That she was," others nodded in agreement. "Nice accent too." Pretty, accent, like to read, good chance it was Belle he thought. Wait, they wanted to kill her. The men continued to talk.

"Should've pushed her in the well when you had the chance." Push her in the well. Who was hurting his Belle? He was glad he had searched for her. He wanted to make sure she was safe, and by the sound of it she wasn't. He wanted more information and decide to get some. He put some coins on the table and slowly walked away. He had taken a few steps when he heard someone walk behind him and go over to his now abandoned table. He turned around to see the lady in blue pick up the coins and turn back around. He was met with her face, and his heart dropped. He didn't know why he thought it could be Belle. Foolish really now that he got a better look at her. He stared at her a tad bit long, and he noticed her uneasiness.

"Can I help you, sir?" she looked up at him. He shook his head slowly.

"No, sorry," he said his mind still hazy with the thought that this wasn't Belle. He strode out of the tavern awkwardly. The thoughts of Belle came crashing down on him. At first he could just tell himself that she had made it safely home and resumed her rightful position as Lady of Avonlea, but know he knew she had been here and in search of the Yaoguai. Now he needed to find her.

He waited for a half an hour before he heard the men walk out. They walked a few feet away towards an inn that was close by. Rumpelstiltskin appeared behind them. He chose to change back his skin to the usual green, for the creepy effect, as people have commented.

"Well what do we have here?" He said with a high giggle. They turned round. The peered at him trying to get a better look at him. His face was shrouded by his dark hood.

"Who do you think you are?" the leader stepped out.

"Well Claude," he made an emphasize on his name, and enjoying the look of surprise on his face. "I'm Rumpelstiltskin." He said rolling the R this time.

"Rumpelstiltskin? How do you know my name?"

"I'm the dark one, the great deal maker, and names are my specialties." He said with a wide grin. "That and I heard your buddy, fool #1 say it." At that fool #1 step toward him ready to swing his arm. "I really wouldn't." The man laughed.

"And why not." He stepped forward.

"Because my favorite thing to turn people into is snails." The man disappeared with a look of shock, and in his place was a small slimy snail. Now all the men were uneasy. Claude rushed to him, mad. Rumpelstiltskin put his foot out and right above the man turned snail. "Do you know why I love turning people into snails the best?" he looked at them. "They're so easy to squish." Claude stopped but still looked at him with hate.

"What do you want?"

"Now we're on the right track," Rumpelstiltskin said. "It's simple. You tell me about the woman who tricked you." Claude sneered.

"What's there to tell she was just a stupid girl?" Rumpelstiltskin really wanted to lower his foot a bit, but waited. "We were going to find the Yaoguai and destroy the terrible beast. She came along told us it was by the lake. She was useless so we pushed her off the wagon. It was only after we went to the lake that we figured out she tricked us."

"What did she look like?"

"Why do you care?"

"That doesn't sound like an answers, dearie" Rumpelstiltskin eyed the snail and looked back at the man.

"Don't, hold on. She had brown hair," he pause remembering. "Blue eyes, fair skin. She wore brown leather pants and a reddish shirt."

"You mentioned a warrior or something. Tell me about it."

"Well after we found out that she tricked us by telling us that the Yaoguai was near a lake we went to a village and found her there. We were going to push her down this well when a girl attacked us. Last I heard she and that girl went off to find the Yaoguai." He took in the information. His next move would be to find this warrior girl.

"Where can I find the warrior girl?"

"She's here in town, with another person. One of them were injured and need to find a healer."

"Was this Bel- the woman who tricked your thick minds?" the man looked at too confused at Rumpelstiltskin's slip up to get mad at him for saying he had a thick mind.

"I don't know."

"Well then I think were done here." He started to walk off.

"Wait," Claude yelled out. "What about our friend?" he said gesturing at the snail. Rumpelstiltskin paused a moment before turning around.

"I suppose you want me to turn him back into human?" Claude nodded.

"I tell you something, that woman you were about to send down that well. She is brilliant, thousands times smarted then you. She's the nicest person I've ever met. She didn't run or cower at the face of this beast, but got closer. And because you threw her out," he cringed think that he did the same and changed his words. "Because you pushed her out of the wagon I'm going to turn you all into snails. They were all wide eyed until the moment they disappeared like their companion and shrank into snails. Rumpelstiltskin sighed and walked away looking to find an inn. He found one that didn't look as shabby and grimy as the rest of them. He walked in to find a plump, older lady drifting in an out of sleep at her place behind a wooden counter. There was a tall mug next to her. He coughed loudly, but she didn't stir.

"Excuse me." Nothing. He banged his hand on the counter.

"Wha-." She blinked her eyes. He realized he hadn't used magic to change his skin, apparently she was too tired to notice.

"Uh, sorry sir do you want a room?" He rolled his eyes with irritation

"Actually no I'm collecting all your women and children to turn them into pelts." She laughed loudly. Not only was she tired, but also drunk.

"Here's your room sir, have a good night," she handed him a key and put her head back on the table. He turned away from woman and headed up the stairs to room number… he looked down at the key.

"Room number three," he said out loud. He found his room and pushed open the door. He didn't even care that the room was small and flopped down on the bed. He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. He would find this warrior and whoever was with her in the morning.

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think about the chapter. Hope you liked it. Thank you!