Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

After the curse is activated, it took Rumpelstiltskin a few minutes to clear his head. False memories from this world mix with his original ones, and he was forced to sift through them both. He wasn't Rumpelstiltskin anymore. Now, he's Mr. Gold. Infamous and feared throughout Storybrook. At least Regina let him keep his reputation.

Mr. Gold sits up and feels a pain in his leg he hasn't felt in years. Of course. No magic in the world means that he's crippled again. Looking around, he finds a black cane with a gold handle beside the bed. He grabs it and heads to the closet to find it full of suits. After picking one, Gold heads downstairs slightly uncomfortable in the clothing. Once downstairs, he found a huge golden dog on his couch.

"Draco?"

The dog's eyes opened, and he looked up at Mr. Gold. At the sight of his master, the dog barked happily and bounded towards him.

"Hello, boy. Where's Belle?"

At the word Belle, Draco stopped moving. He simply bowed his head and whined. It took minutes for Gold to realize that something had happened while he was away. He's terrified at first. Maybe she'd gotten tired of waiting and left. No. She wouldn't do that. Clutching the necklace around his neck, Gold sat down to think it over. Who could get to her? Even with him gone, she had a dragon guarding her. Then it hit him. There was only one person he knew that could get past a dragon without killing it.

It's not long before he's at Regina's new home. He realizes the irony in her making herself mayor. It seems that the people still hate her as well. Mr. Gold doesn't bother knocking. He knows that she remembers her original life and probably feels the same way he does. As he suspected, she comes down the stairs to stand before him, obviously irritated.

"Don't you ever knock?"

"I'm merely returning the favor, your majesty. Now, where is she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Gold knew she was lying, and his grip on his cane tightened."You know full well who I'm talking about. So if you would please stop toying with me. Where. Is. Belle?"

For a moment, he saw fear in her eyes."She's locked away in the basement of the hospital."

He smiles slightly and thanks her for her assistance. Mr. Gold turns to leave but stops himself and turns back to look Regina in the eyes.

"One more thing. If you bother Belle again, I'll make sure my next request isn't so simple."

Never one to back down, even if she's out matched, Regina glared at him."Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm merely informing you on how the way things are going to be from now on. I'm willing to overlook anything you do so long as what's mine is left alone. However, if Belle is harmed...let's just say I can't be held responsible if something were to happen to you. Do we understand each other?"

Regina knows that he isn't bluffing, but her glare remains in place as she speaks."Yes."

He gives her an evil grin."Good. It's been a pleasure as always, your majesty.

TBC