The Darkness and the Light Chapter Five - Divided, an once upon a time fanfic

Chapter Five - Divided

00BELLE00

The road was dusty and hard and Belle dearly wished she hadn't been wearing heels when Zelena forced them into the portal. She looked over at Will, but he avoided her gaze. He at least had decent shoes.

The forest they'd landed in was green and fragrant and soft enough to cushion their fall as they slid out of the bean-hole. 'Must be summer than' had been Will's sole comment on their new predicament and the pair had shared few words since. The road had been easy enough to find, though road was hardly the best description for it in her opinion.

At first Belle hadn't minded the silence between them, after all she had a great deal on her mind, but she'd quickly discovered there were only so many ways she could think of murdering Zelena before the glaringly obvious fact that she would have to find a way home before any murdering could be done took over her thoughts. She'd tried to discuss the problem with Will, but he seemed annoyingly indifferent on the matter, but then again he had always been like this. That was part of the reason she'd enjoyed his company, he was always so calm and detached about everything. But calm and detached wasn't what she needed now. She needed action! She needed someone who cared! Someone who would do ...something! ...She needed Rumple. Distracted, Belle stumbled against a rock, nearly snapping her ankle in the process, 'Curse these heels!' she muttered as she righted herself and hurried after Will who was quickly outpacing her, how could he not grasp that she couldn't keep up in these heels!?Belle hurried on, spurned by an inner anger that had only a little to do with Will's thoughtless behavior, no this anger had been building for some time and she wasn't even sure who was to blame for it. She was furious at her husband for hiding so much from her, but there was also some part of her that understood why he'd wanted to hide his impending death from her ...but she was his wife! He should've told her so that they could decide on a plan together, but NO he just had to hide thing sand go behind her back to fix things and look where that all ended! ...I suppose it was my fault too, she sighed, I should've listened to him, but I was just so angry and... and... I'm not even sure why now; she shook her head, a gesture that was becoming a habit lately as she tried to clear the cobwebs from her abused brain; she knew there were gaps in her memory, at first she had blamed Rumple entirely, but the memory lapses hadn't stopped when he left town. She knew now who had been to blame for those, but she brushed that thought away, 'Not important right now' she said, 'What's important now is finding a way home and stopping Zelena from whatever awful plans she had for Rumple...' But even if they could get home and save him, how could she win him back when he didn't even remember her?

So intent on her thought was she that she didn't notice that Will had stopped until she ran into his back; nearly falling backwards into the dusty road thanks to those stupid heels she was wearing. She was about to tell Will exactly how badly she wanted to kick him with her stilettos, when she noticed that his hands were up in the universal gesture of surrender. And when she saw the drawn swords pointed in their direction she promptly joined him.

00ZELENA00

Zelena had absolute sacks full of magic beans and could've chosen any land in which to settle, but for some reason she had felt drawn to her own childhood home. Her 'father' had died some years back and apparently the cottage had been vacant since, if cobwebs were any judge and since housework was hardly a witch's idea of a good time, she was sorely tempted to use magic to clean the place, but she was pretty sure her 'husband' had seen enough magic today. Anymore and he might start to remember who the real witch was. Oh well, she shrugged and fetched a broom, a dustpan and few rags from the kitchen, right where she'd left them all those years ago, and tying her adoptive mother's apron around her waist she began to sweep, tossing rags to Lily and Isaac with a rather forceful look that said, 'clean or else!'

After dusting her father's chair Zelena guided her woozy husband to it and told him to rest and 'let wifey take care of everything'. He'd collapsed into the chair without comment and whenever Zelena looked up from her cleaning she noticed that his eyes were following her, he looked vaguely confused about it all, but Zelena thought she detected a certain peace about his features now that had been missing back in Storybrook. It seemed all this domestic claptrap really appealed to him. He even seemed to be looking at her in a more appreciative way.

What is with this man and his attraction to maids? she wondered returning sulkily to her broom.

00EMMA00

Emma carried Henry as if he were lighter than a feather. As she laid him gently down in the middle of the forest he moaned softly; he'd be alright now she guessed. Though her own knowledge of concussion came more from watching crime shows than any real practical applications. 'Oh well, if he seems like he has brain damage than I'll just have to risk using a little more magic to fix him.' she decided, the guilt she'd been feeling over Henry's head injury was already fading away. I guess Darkness has its perks after all.

Her fingers tingled with magic, but she still felt a nagging sense of doubt over using it. With a slow and surprisingly gentle gesture she raised her hand and swatted down a few trees making a small clearing in the thickest part of the woods.

"Why do you hesitate?"

She wasn't sure if the voice was in her head or standing behind her, but she didn't want to turn around. "I'm just being cautious." she said, "I don't want anything else to go wrong, ok?"

"The Dark One fears nothing."

"Maybe I'm a new breed of 'Dark One' then." she said, "Did you ever think of that?"

The darkness laughed. It was the most disturbing sound Emma had ever heard in her life.

"Ah such spirit in you!" it sounded pleased. "Go ahead and fight me Emma Swan." it said, "They all fought me, even stupid Claus, but I always win..."

Feeling her fear of using magic fade away like a dream, Emma raised her arms and with a mighty blow leveled a hundred trees. Using the wood and rocks around her she began to weave a castle of magic around her and her son.

00BELLE00

Belle shrieked in pain as a sudden jolt passed through the wicker cage she was riding in causing her body to rise in the air just far enough to make the landing painful. She knew there was no point in asking her captors to go a bit slower and watch out for bumps in the rough road. The knights had pegged Will for a thief right away and as for Belle, her cheeks were still burning after the appraising she'd gotten... a 'lewd' woman indeed! Belle blew out an angry breath; her clothes were perfectly respectable! Too much ankle indeed, surprising they didn't mention the prominent display of calves and knees while they were at it, she muttered, kicking Will in the ribs for good measure. How could he sleep when they were being carted off to some dank dungeon?!

The kick must've hit home because Will was awake now and Belle decided it was high time they discussed a few things... "So what happened to your heart?" Belle asked in a friendly tone that belied the kick she'd just given him.

"Like I told that ginger witch; I haven't kept me heart in there (he thumps his chest) in quite some time."

"Let me be more specific..." she corrected, "Why don't you have a heart, Will? There must be a reason..." she pursued persuasively.

"I'm just an ordinary bloke, love. Not like all those crazy magical folk back in Storybrook. Don't overcomplicate things and you'll know exactly why I don't keep my heart in my chest anymore."

"A woman?" she guessed. He nodded dismissively, offering no details. "Ok... will you tell me what happened?" she persisted.

"Why?" he asked sulkily, "Let the past stay where it is, Belle. Just let it be..."

"Will, whatever may have happened between, I am still your friend and while I don't want to pry..."

"So why you prying then?"

"Because I want to understand you, Will!" Belle snapped, momentarily losing her patience, "We've been spending time together for months now, I'm not exactly sure what was between us or what happened to whatever is was, frankly my memory feels like Swiss-cheese some mornings... I wake up in odd places, I turn to do something and suddenly I'm in a completely different part of the room... once I put a kettle on the stove and in a BLINK it had boiled dry!"

Alarmed that the guards were taking notice, Will motioned for Belle to calm done and lower her voice, "Do you want to get us in even more trouble?" he asked.

Belle winced and lowered her voice, "I'm sorry," she said, "I just feel so angry and so ...confused... I feel like I've been used and lied too and I don't understand why. At first I thought it was husband who was wiping my memories so that he could hide something from me and I still think he was responsible for at least some of it, but, Will... the memory lapses kept happening even after he left and before he came back. I even went to see Doctor Whale and couldn't find a thing wrong with me."

"I'm sure he had a good look too." Will quipped.

"The point is... "she said, "I've been thinking about everything that's happened to me... to US... and trying to put the puzzle together and then when Rumple brought me my heart..."

"I did most of the work really." Will interjected, "But go on..."

"As I said," she continued, "When Rumple gave me back my heart, which I didn't even realize that I'd lost ...as soon as he put it back in ...everything slide into place in my head and I suddenly thought about all the 'visits' I'd had from 'my friend' Regina and I knew... I KNEW that she'd been using me for a long time... for reasons of her own. Mostly to hurt Rumple, I think..."

"No one's using me, love." broke in Will, "I know exactly where my heart is and trust me no one is 'controlling' me with it. I just didn't want to feel nothing anymore."

After a few moments, Belle spoke again, this time in a much softer tone, "Let me tell you something, Will..." she said, "I hurt inside." she placed both her hands over her heart; "Ever since Rumple returned this to me it's been in agony. Over my wrecked marriage more than anything, but let me tell you ...I would never, NEVER trade my pain away. I need that pain, because that pain is motivating me to find my way home so that I can fix things with my husband and save all my friends... my real friends, from that lying witch and so help me, Will ...I will die trying to get back to them if I have too. I'm tired of being used Will. We ARE going to get home and I WILL fight to save my marriage and if you're half the man I think you are then you'll go get your heart back and fight for your love too."

"It's not as easy as that. She married someone else."

"Oh, well that does pose a bit of a problem." she admitted, Are you absolutely sure that she's your true love...?"

"She may not have been true." he said, "But she's the only girl for me." he paused, "Maybe it's me that was wrong for her. Maybe I wasn't her true love after all, even though she was mine... I can't blame her really. He was a king you know, the man you threw me over for... The Red King as it happens. Not that that probably means much to you..."

Belle placed her hand on Will's shoulder, "At the very least she owes you an explanation." she said gently. "I need you Will," she added, "You know this realm so much better than I do and..."

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"This realm," Belle repeated peeling back the rotting straw on which they sat to uncover the crest clearly emblazoned on the wooden slats... "Camelot."

"What the bloody 'ell makes you think I know a thing about this Camelot?"

"But..." she stammered, "You're WILL SCARLETT! Shouldn't you know about Camelot? This is your realm isn't it? How could you not know who King Arthur is?"

"Give me a break love. I didn't exactly grow up around here, though..." he looked through the cage at the passing countryside, "...I admit the place does look a might familiar."

Belle's brow furrowed in thought, "I guess maybe I'm mixed up. I've read about you you know, in a book. And I've read about Camelot too, but I thought they were related somehow."

"Trust me love, I never heard of King Arthur." said Will, "Richard was king in when I left Sherwood, though his brother did try his best to take his thrown away... So," he said, taking an interest at last, "How 'bout YOU Tell ME about Camelot."

Belle shrugged, "All I really know is what I read of course," she said, "And keep in mind the stories aren't always accurate to what really happened, why you should read this world's version of my story, it..."

Will coughed, "Camelot?"

Belle blushed, "Right," she said, "Ok, I don't know how accurate this is, but the story goes like this..."

00ZELENA00

Zelena dropped her basket on the table, leaving Isaac and Lily to sort through the week's shopping as she grabbed the fresh bundle of straw and brought it to Rumple who was, as usual spinning at his wheel.

"Your straw..." she said gaily, "Dropping the new bundle in his nearly empty straw box.

Rumple blinked, as if he was just waking from a dream. "Oh ...yes. Thank you my dear." he said, somewhat abstractedly, his fingers again spinning the straw after only a momentary lapse in rhythm.

"I bet I know a way to temp you away from that wheel..." she said, pulling a meat pie from her pocket, "Your favorite, I believe..." she said leaning in to kiss him, but only grazing a bit of cheek as her 'husband' once again flinched away from her.

Zelena turned away to hide the rage flowing over her face, 'Why does he keep rejecting me!' she wailed inwardly, storming off to the kitchen to take her anger out on Isaac and Lily. Robin Hood hadn't been nearly this difficult...

"I think if we just asked her to let us go back, she might..." Lily whispered.

"I might what...?" Zelena asked entering the room.

Lily swallowed, "You see Zelena, it's like this..."

"We want to go home." Isaac interjected. "We're both tired of playing the part of 'the help' in your little domestic play. This was not the deal Zelena and you know it."

"Oh yes, I know." said Zelena in a low mocking tone, "You..." she pointed to Lily, "Want revenge on the Charmings and you..." she pointed to Isaac, "Want your fame and fortune back... what pedestrian little fantasies you have."

"Says the woman who's currently playing house with another's woman's husband, while carrying the child of yet another man who thought HE was her husband..."

"I warn you Author..."

"Not The Author anymore." he reminded her. "Believe me if I was I would've whittled myself a quill and written my way out of this nightmare weeks ago."

"Well if you're so clever why don't you work out where I've hidden the beans then and be on your way?" she challenged.

"Look, just give us a bean Zelena and we'll be on our way." said Lily. "You don't really need us here and unless you're willing to use some magic and add on a couple of bedrooms... really, Zelena all I really want at this moment is to sleep in a bed again..." she glanced at Isaac and added, "...alone."

"Fine." Zelena said petulantly. Maybe it's for the best, she thought, with Miss Gloom and Mr. Doom gone, Rumple might warm up to me a little faster. Brightening, she snapped her fingers and a magic bean appeared in her hand. "Just take it go." she said. "But don't come crawling back to me if Sheriff locks you both up again..."

Unheeding of the raised voices coming from the kitchen, Rumple continued to spin faster and faster till the rhythm of the straw matched the rhythm of the images as they swirled around him, tantalizing him with memories he couldn't quite touch and the face of a woman that he couldn't quite bring into focus.

00EMMA00

Emma's castle was crafted with fairytale splendor in mind; the walls were four feet thick and made of transparent aluminum, which made the house castle appear as if it was made of smoke. The part for her was that she could easily see out, while anyone looking in would simply see their own reflection in a smokey haze.

"Cool." Henry had said, "It's just like a two-way mirror from a cop show!"

"Its bullet proof too." she'd told him.

"Is that really necessary?" he'd asked.

"I hope not."

The shadow had scoffed at her building efforts of course, saying in that high pitch sing-song pantomime voice that outed him as the shade of Rumplestiltskin, 'Remember Dearie... all magic comes with a price. Best not let your debt grow too large...'

Emma had thrown a tree through him. Not that it hurt him any. She smiled at the memory just the same, happy to stick one to the annoying little bugger, and happier still that her son seemed to be warming to the place. Though she could sense he was acting a part at times ...but why should that bother The Dark One? If Henry needed to bolster his morale behind a few white lies to make peace with the solitude of their new lives, let him too it. She had other things to do.

Though what those other things were Emma was increasingly uncertain. She remembered when she took the darkness on, how certain she'd been that she could beat it; that her family could beat it. But that was before, before she tasted the true Darkness and before it had tasted her.

Emma needed to clear her mind, so as was her want of late she went to polish her bedroom door. Emma loved this door. The words etched into the solid silver were familiar and beloved... she began to polish. Murmuring the familiar words carved into the silver like an incantation;

The course of true love never did run smooth Don't waste your love on somebody who doesn't value it

Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would also change

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Did my heart love till now is love a tender thing? It is too rough too rude too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn

Deny thy father and refuse thy name or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet

Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books but love from love toward school with heavy looks

Good-night, good-night! Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good-night till it be morrow.

Give me my Romeo and when he shall die take him and cut him out in little stars and he will make the face of Heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.

See what a scourge is laid upon your hate that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love

Like most kids her age she had hated Shakespeare in school, that weird language and all that crap about dead kings... but for some reason Romeo and Juliet had been different. The tale of two true lovers' lives being torn apart by their rotten families had spoken to her long before she knew how truly awful family can be... wait, did I really just think that? she gut-checked herself. 'I do NOT blame my parents for this!' she said aloud to help convince herself, 'I chose this path and I am going to find a solution to this darkness ...and if I can't than I ...I will learn how to live with it.'

Gradually as she polished the bard's words she realized that they were beginning to wipe away; replaced by another phase repeated over and over again...

'All magic comes with a price.' 'All magic comes with a price.' 'All magic comes with a price.'

Emma hammered her fists against the door and screamed; closing her eyes against the words... when she finally opened her eyes it was to find her door once again covered as before with love lines from Romeo and Juliet.

Suddenly Emma sensed that something was wrong, something the door had been distracting her from. She called for Henry, but he didn't come. A quick search of the castle had only confirmed her suspicions; her son had run away from home.

Adding insult to injury, Shadow Rumple appeared to mock her, "Don't say I didn't warn you, Dearie." it said, grinning from behind its cloak, "All magic comes with a price..."

Emma wondered how long she was going to have to put up with him popping in and out of her life at will... 'If only I could ask the real Rumplestiltskin that question...' she mumbled. Then magic'ing up a new outfit out of silver and leather that she was sure would make Regina jealous Emma flung open the castle gates and went to pay a little call on the mayor.