Chapter Twenty: Something Worth Seeing

Ruby couldn't believe this one! Although the plan was fairly good, perhaps even border-lining genius, she didn't want to have to act innocent. Bae dismounted Ruby, placing his hand over her back, closing his eyes. It was the bast way he could focus. Within seconds, Ruby had transformed into a small Dalmatian puppy.

Bae sent her out to the queen while he riled up his magic, causing the purple to nearly overflow in his hands.

Regina turned at the sound of a tiny bark, seeing the small puppy. Ignoring it, she returned to her work, hoping the little rat would go away. However, she became more of a nuisance than anything as she began to nip at Regina's ankles.

"Get away or I'll burn you at the stake for the miserable mutt you are," Regina scolded, turning back to her work. It was the forest so her tolerance of annoyance was higher than usual. Still, the puppy persisted and then began head butting Regina in the leg, nearly making her trip.

"That's it!"

Just as she went for the puppy, Bae had taken a shot with his magic. Instead of hitting her as he intended, he hit the fire, completely extinguishing it. Swearing under his breath, Bae remained hidden among the trees, transforming Ruby back into a wolf. By then, Regina turned back to see her biting at her ankles again, this time more furious!

With magic, she forced the wolf back, but she was fresh for the fight, reeling back instantly. Smiling with satisfaction, Regina looked amongst the trees.

"You're a little rusty, Rumpel," she yelled. Bae knew he had to use all the magic he could before his father got here. But he had to stay hidden. "Where are you hiding?"

Bae watched as Ruby snarled and growled at Regina, but the queen seemed to be holding her in place. Confident in his magic, Baelfire released Ruby from her bonds. Regina glanced back into the trees, and each time Bae knew she was getting closer and closer to his location.

Finally, the boy took another shot at the Regina, hitting her dead in the center, causing her to flip backwards, but like a cat, she landed on her feet. Ruby charged, jumping onto her back. Regina spun around, throwing the wolf off of her and creating a magical barrier. Bae didn't know what to do with that.

"Nothing beats nature," he told himself, thinking and hoping that was true. He took a silent shot at at tree, sending it tumbling down towards Regina, and then he proceeded to distract her with balls of energy. By the time she figured out the tree was there, her barrier was gone.

Bae took that precious time to strike with fire, but she returned the favor, setting the forest on fire, almost forcing him out of hiding.

"Come on out Rumpel," Regina said. "You don't have to hide from me."

Bae thought to just stay put, but then he had a faster idea, and he could sense people were nearby.

"PAPA!" Bae called randomly into the forest. This would help his father find him number one, and number two, it would help his plan immensely.

Just as he suspected, Regina reached in with her magic. He allowed her to catch him and reel him in.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked as she held him by the throat. Bae struggled against her, faking it mostly.

"PAPA!" he shouted again, and Ruby lunged to save him, but the queen spun around, sending her into the forest of flames. The wolf came running back.

"BAE!"

Rumpelstiltskin had emerged from the flames first, followed by David, Emma, Snow, and the dwarves.

"Put the kid down," Grumpy demanded, readying his pick ax. Dopey stood behind him with the crossbow Granny left for him.

"Well Rumpel," Regina said. "Did you find out the price of your magic?"

"Yes, I did, now put my son down," Mr. Gold said, walking steadily towards her and Bae.

"I'm willing to make a deal-"

"There are no deals." That was the end of that conversation for him.

"Oh but this one's a bargain. All you have to do is agree to give me your magic."

Rumpel saw the expression on Bae's face, and it held a smirk. Ruby fell back, though being held to the ground by Regina's magic helped only some, seeing the boy's plan finally settling in.

"That's it?" Rumpelstiltskin replied. "That's all you want?"

"Yes, why? What more is there?" Regina asked in sarcasm. Rumpelstiltskin offered a faint smile, and that's when Regina let Baelfire down beside her. Bae place his hands on his knees, sighing. Mr. Gold walked towards her, and he focused purely on Regina, hoping Bae knew what he was doing.

"Nothing I suppose," Rumpel said. "All right, Your Majesty. You win...take it, but then give me the boy."

"You first," Regina insisted. "Take your place at the pit." Rumpelstiltskin walked over to the fire pit, and the Evil Queen proceeded to relight it with both hands, still constricting Bae and Ruby.

"Gold no!" Emma shouted, pulling the gun, but everyone ignored that. It was a habit, but Emma knew the gun really wouldn't do anything; however, she liked the security the gun provided for her.

Regina held the book up and began reciting the words, and it was then Bae realized how powerful his magic could be. Without the words, he was not confined to any book, but her magic was. If she had his father's magic, she'd be the single, most powerful person the world. Too bad Rumpel didn't have his magic anymore...

"Give it up Gold. Stop fighting. You want this. You want your son don't you?" Regina asked. Gold then lay limp in the air, and that was Bae's cue. Regina had released her hold on him.

She gave a look of confusion, finding the Rumpelstiltskin's magic was not allowing itself to be removed form him. Bae had made a split second decision just then.

He stabbed her in the back of the neck, scathing his way down to the middle of her back. Rumpel saw her face alter as she stared blankly defeated.

"I don't have any magic, dearie," Rumpel said, a smile imprinted on his face as her magic at once let him go, sending him to land on his feet just in front of the fire. Regina fell to the floor, revealing to him Baelfire with the bloodstained knife.

"Son...you killed her," Mr. Gold said.

"I've seen her power, and though this may haunt me for the rest of my life, I am relieved to have helped. My conscious is clear," Bae replied. Rumpelstiltskin ran to his son, grasping the boy into a hug.

He'd never dreamed his son would have to kill anyone, much less Regina. The crowd stood in shock, and Ruby came to Bae, nudging his side. The battle was much faster than Bae had anticipated. Then again, they'd caught her by surprise.

The trees cleared up, though the burning patches would take time to go away. Magic was not completely gone from the scene of catastrophe.

An aurora fell around Regina, and then a mist came into the fire. Rumpel told them that it was Regina's magic, and that it was finally leaving her body. Bae held the dagger in his hands, pointing to her body.

"Papa!" Bae said. "Why is she healing?"

True enough, the wounds on her back were healing, they closed with perfect stitching up her back and neck. Rumpelstiltskin, astounded rattled off a myth he heard a long long time ago.

"If magic bore itself within thee, an aurora for all to see, for when thy magical force released matures, a resurrection of thine soul will thus occur..." he breathed. "Impossible..."

"What are talking about Papa?" Bae asked.

"She was born with a connection to magic. It's grown strong and been very valuable to her. Now that it's gone...it's giving her a second chance at life," Rumpelstiltskin explained. "I thought that was just a myth spread by kings to justify their divinity and rights to the throne by expressing a sense of rebirth within the soul because of magic."

"Great! Just what we need!" Grumpy shouted as Regina lay on the floor. "Another Regina!"

"She doesn't have magic," Rumpelstiltskin said, turning to his son. "And you must never give it to her. Never give it to anyone...I know you hate it Bae...but you have to keep it safe."

"I don't hate it Papa, I just don't like to use it unless it has a real purpose," Bae said. "I'm stuck with it now."

Hearing that last phrase made Rumpel's heart sink a little inside. The boy didn't sound happy, but he didn't sound too disappointed either. The dwarves were not happy about Regina coming back to life, in fact they sounded horrified.

"Well magic or no magic, she's still evil," Snow said, observing the body. "But she'll be far less powerful than before. She'll be one of us...like Mr. Gold."

Ruby transformed back into a girl and came next to Bae. Her wounds were healing already from Rumpelstiltskin's magic. Bae could sense Ruby's gratitude for Rumpelstiltskin, but she came to congratulate him for his work on taking Regina's magic.

"So I didn't kill her then?" Bae asked in a higher pitched voice. In fact, he sounded a little relieved.

"No," Red said. "But I'm not talking to her, magic or none. She should really just get out of town."

Rumpelstiltskin took his son away from the others, and the dwarves announced they would drag Regina back to town, and literally that is what they did because in their eyes, it was good enough for the likes of her. Ruby looked back before walking back with Snow and David.

"Bae," Rumpel said, looking at his son. "I'm so sorry Son...for the magic, for everything."

Bae hugged his father again, talking with him on their way back to town where Belle was awaiting their return. Bae gave Belle a hug as did Rumpelstiltskin.

"Belle," Rumpel said. "Thank you...for everything you've done for me. If there is anything I can do to repay you for what I put you through, name it and it's yours."

Belle smirked, thinking of the most ridiculous thing possible. She tried to speak but nothing came out and instead, she exhaled into laughter.

"I have something," she assured him. He looked at her curiously and she'd caught Bae's attention too. They were on the streets, ready to walk back to the house.

"You can stop wearing those leather pants," Belle said. Bae's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he too, burst into laughter. The image of his father in leather pants amused him greatly, and Rumpel sighed, rolling his eyes as he turned his head to the side.

"You wear leather pants?" Bae asked in shock, looking at Belle who nodded. "Since when?"

"Ever since I've known him," Belle sighed, turning back to Rumpel. "And they look absolutely, undeniably ridiculous on you now." Bae continued laughing.

His head came back up, his tongue resting between his teeth on the right side of his mouth, and he let out another side.

"Very well," Rumpelstiltskin said. "I'll give them to Baelfire."

"Oh I have to see this!" Bae exclaimed.