They had been walking for perhaps twenty minutes when they heard the first unfamiliar noise, a strange, low growling. They immediately halted, Hook waving his piece of burning wood to try to make out what was ahead.
"I can't see anything," he said warily. "Does anyone have any idea what that was?"
"Are there bears on this island?" asked David, and Hook shrugged.
"Never seen one," he admitted. "But then, it's my first time in here, so who knows?"
The sound had disappeared. They stood in silence for a good five minutes, ears straining, before Mary Margaret spoke.
"I don't think we can stay here all night," she pointed out. "I can't hear anything, so let's go on."
Hook puffed out his cheeks uncertainly, but nodded and strode forward. The passage sloped downwards and became colder and wetter, water running down the walls and trickling across the floor. David had the uneasy feeling that they were below the ocean and tried not to think of the walls collapsing around them and condemning them to a watery tomb. Then, as abruptly as it had started, the passage ended at a doorway with a face carved into the stone lintel, a cruel face with a curling tongue, its brows drawn down and its head wreathed in what looked like stylised flames.
"Well, that's welcoming," said Hook dryly. "It looks as though we've reached our destination." He strode through the doorway and stopped, staring upwards. The others crowded in behind him and followed his gaze. They were in a vast cavern, its rocky walls lit with feeble light from their torches and Gold's glowing ball, which had shot up towards the crenelated roof. Statues stood in a haphazard arrangement around the floor. They were all men, in varied outfits, clearly hailing from different lands, and some in very strange poses. Mary Margaret marvelled at the skill of the craftsmen in picking out minute details of the armour worm by one man, the lines in another man's face. Some of the statues were crumbling into dust, features blurred, noses missing, arms cracked off, and she wondered how long they had stood there. In places, odd limbs, heads and unrecognisable chunks of rock littered the floor from those that had already broken apart due to age or violence. At the opposite end of the cavern, on a plinth of marble surrounded by rubble, sat a large oval mirror, ornately framed in silver.
"That's it!" whispered David. "That must be what we need!"
"Indeed," said Gold quietly, looking furtively around the cavern. "Now, how do you propose we get it?"
"There's nothing here," said Hook patiently, "it'll be easy. I don't know what all the fuss was about." Gold rolled his eyes.
"Yes, and I expect that's exactly what these gentlemen thought," he said sarcastically, motioning towards the statues surrounding them. Mary Margaret gasped as she realised what he was suggesting.
"Watch!" scoffed Hook, thrusting his torch at Mary Margaret before striding out across the floor. David made a grab for his shoulder, but missed. Hook jogged quickly towards the mirror, casting his eyes from left to right as he did so. He reached the plinth without incident and lifted his prize in both hands with a triumphant shout.
"Told you it was easy!" he called, turning the mirror to gaze at his own reflection. David and Mary Margaret shushed him, gesturing with their arms for him to be quiet and get back to them. Gold merely watched as what he had initially thought to be a pile of rocks in an alcove to the side of the plinth moved. A large greyish body, human in shape, uncurled itself and turned towards Hook. Gold's eyes widened in recognition and he suddenly span away from it in fear.
"Cover your eyes!" he shouted. "Cover your eyes! Don't look, don't move, and don't say a word until I tell you!"
Hook stood, frozen in shock, as the thing in front of him stood up to its full height. It had the form of a human female, albeit far larger than any human, but its skin was the dusty grey of the boulders littered around the cavern. Its heavy, pendulous breasts swayed forwards and backwards as it bent towards the pirate, the muscles of its arms and thighs seeming to ripple unnaturally. As Hook's gaze travelled up its body, he noticed with horror that its head was covered in writhing snakes, its tongue long and pointed, and its eyes…
The creature opened its mouth wide, showing yellow, pointed teeth and letting out a growl of rage. David, Gold and Mary Margaret stood stock still, eyes squeezed shut, straining to hear what it was doing.
"Don't move a muscle," Gold whispered, his voice barely audible. There was more growling, this time further away, then silence. Gold counted two minutes, then opened one eye a crack. The creature was curled again in its alcove, head tucked under its arms. He touched David on the shoulder and put his finger to his lips as David's eyes flew open. The three of them turned towards the cavern.
"Hook!" whispered Mary Margaret, pointing, putting her hand to her mouth in shock. The pirate was standing with his hands raised, as though they were still holding the mirror. That object was back on its plinth, as if it had never been taken. Gold walked forwards slowly, reaching out to put his hand on Hook's arm. The hard dustiness of rock met his fingers. Hook was made entirely of stone, his handsome face, with its cocky expression, frozen in grey rock. Gold noticed with interest that even his stubble was picked out in stone.
"Well, at least we know what we're dealing with now," he shrugged, and turned to the others. "I suggest a two-pronged approach, Charmings. One of you gets the mirror while the other distracts the Gorgon."
"Distracts it?" said Mary Margaret incredulously. "By getting turned to stone, you mean? Somehow I think there must be a better way than that."
"I'll distract it," said David grimly. "What will you be doing, Gold?"
"I'll be directing you, of course," he said patiently. "You won't be able to look it in the face without suffering the same fate as our exuberant friend. So I suggest you keep your eyes closed and listen. Its eyesight is poor, but it has excellent hearing, so be as quiet as you can."
David and Mary Margaret exchanged looks of insecurity, then squeezed one another's hand and strode quietly into the cavern, the torches in their hands casting a flickering, eerie light over the walls.
"Miss Blanchard, if you cut around to the right," whispered Gold. "Perhaps the Prince could draw his sword in readiness."
They complied, Mary Margaret ducking around the edge of the plinth while the creature still slumbered. She put down her torch carefully, making as little noise as possible.
"It will wake as soon as you take the mirror," said Gold softly. "Be ready to close your eyes."
Mary Margaret put both hands on the silver frame, watching the creature as it shifted restlessly, then in one smooth movement she lifted the mirror from its position on the plinth, holding it with the glass facing away from her. The Gorgon awoke with another enraged growl, hissing as it uncurled its body and turned to face its enemies. The three intruders squeezed their eyes shut as its gaze swept over them, then Gold felt it pass by him and lunge at David. He opened his eyes.
"Now!" he yelled, and David thrust forward, striking the creature on the arm and making it howl in pain and rage. A gout of greenish blood spurted from the injured limb, and it shied away from the fire as David swung his torch back and forth desperately. The Gorgon circled around out of the way of the flames and ducked low, before making a sudden grab for David's sword-arm.
"Again!" shouted Gold, and David swung the sword with a grunt of effort, slicing through several of the snakes on the head of the Gorgon and cutting down into its forearm. Serpents' bodies fell squirming to the rocky floor, where they continued to writhe and hiss. The Gorgon shrieked and flexed its claw-like hands as David, sightless, backed away from the noise and Mary Margaret inched closer to the cavern doorway.
"Quickly!" urged Gold, reaching out for her. The Gorgon suddenly lunged without warning, sending David flying across the cavern to land on his back, the breath knocked from his chest and the sword falling from his hand.
"No!" cried Mary Margaret, in horror, as the creature bore down on her husband. She shook off Gold's hand and ran back into the cavern, holding up the mirror in front of her. Gold hissed in annoyance.
"Hey ugly!" she bellowed. "Get away from my husband, you bitch!"
The Gorgon turned swiftly with a shriek, and Mary Margaret shut her eyes, praying that her plan would work. There was sudden, unexpected, deafening silence. Gold opened his eyes first, noting with amusement the terrible stone figure, its arms outstretched and hands almost on Mary Margaret's throat. The snakes that passed for hair moved no longer, merely part of the stone statue that stood before them, gazing at its own reflection in the mirror.
"Well done Miss Blanchard," said Gold, with a small smile. "Quick thinking on your part, dearie."
David pushed himself to his feet, embracing his wife hurriedly.
"Let's get the hell out of here," he muttered, taking the mirror from her.
"I couldn't have put it better myself," said Gold dryly, and turned to lead the way out of the cavern.
"Gold," said David flatly. "What about Hook?"
"What about him?" Gold's voice was supreme indifference, and David and Mary Margaret glanced at one another.
"We can't just leave him like this," she protested, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Really? And why would that be? I can't see that he's any use to us, unless you're thinking of collecting a very odd set of garden ornaments." He nodded from Hook to the Gorgon.
"You can change him back," said David, and Gold nodded.
"'Can' being the operative word," he said quietly, showing his teeth. Mary Margaret folded her arms and gave him a stern look.
"You know it's the right thing to do," she said severely, and he looked aghast.
"We have met, haven't we?" he asked, in mock surprise, gesturing between the two of them. "You do know who I am, I take it?"
"Then let me put it in terms you'll understand," suggested David. "If you change him back, he'll owe you."
Gold rolled his eyes with a sigh, then grimaced and waved his hand elaborately. The stone statue of Hook seemed suddenly to crack and splinter before the man himself emerged, coughing and panting, shaking the dust from his shoulders.
"What the hell…" he gasped, looking around rapidly.
"You're welcome," growled Gold, walking slowly from the cavern.
Belle and Ruby walked quickly to Gold's shop, and stopped outside as Belle took a deep breath.
"Do you have a key?" asked Ruby, and Belle shook her head.
"Don't need one yet. There's a protection spell on it," she explained. "You have to hold my hand. It knows me, it'll need to be taught to recognise you. Once we're through I can use the keys. Then the spell will only let people in when one of us is in the shop." She held out her hand to Ruby, and her friend took it hesitantly. Belle stepped forwards slowly, feeling the spell lick over her like warm flames, gently caressing her skin. A finger of the spell ran gently over her lower lip, like Rumple would stroke her with his thumb before kissing her, and she giggled. Ruby was flinching, and Belle squeezed her hand reassuringly. After a minute or so Ruby gasped a little and nodded to Belle, and they stepped forward together to open the door. The little bell above rang cheerfully as they entered, and Belle locked the door behind them, striding purposefully into the back room.
"I didn't want to open it until I was here," she explained, taking the scroll from her pocket. "These things can be surprisingly sensitive to location and surroundings." Ruby shrugged her ignorance, but watched interestedly as Belle pulled open the red bow. Unfurling the scroll, Belle was surprised to see that it contained only a few lines in Gold's neat, slanting handwriting.
Red Grimoire, page 87
Storybrooke has everything you need
It will hurt
You'll be afraid
But I know you'll do it anyway, my brave beauty
I love you
R x
"Hmm," she said, vexed. Ruby looked over her shoulder.
"What does he mean 'it'll hurt'?" she asked.
"The spell, I imagine," said Belle glumly. "That's it: we're definitely not asking the Blue Fairy for help. It must be something dark."
"Well, does it hurt him to cast magic?" asked Ruby, and Belle shook her head.
"Not as far as I know. Maybe it's just this particular spell," she said. She started scanning the shelves. "We'd better find the red grimoire he's talking about. Ruby, look over there." She pointed vaguely to the shelves behind her, then turned back to those she had been gazing at, running her finger gently across the spines of dozens of old books. Ruby looked over the shelves, pulling out any red book she could get her hands on. After a while they had two piles containing perhaps three dozen books, and Belle sighed.
"I almost wish I'd let him teach me some magic," she said reluctantly. "I could have been more useful. Come on, let's start the process of elimination."
They leafed through the books, putting aside those in languages other than English, which Belle would need to translate, and those which were clearly not the book they were looking for, being non-fiction works on antiques or history, or volumes containing accounts of the ogre wars or ancient bloodlines of the Enchanted Forest. Page eighty-seven of all the books in English did not provide any spell that would achieve what they wanted, and Belle grumbled under her breath at her lover's oblique message. Eventually, they had narrowed it down to three books, and Belle looked over them curiously, biting her lip in concentration.
"This looks our best bet," she said, picking up a heavy tome bound in red leather. "The script is runic, and I know some of that – I was starting to learn some of the off-world languages when I was at Rumple's castle." She leafed through the book with interest, flipping the heavy vellum pages until she reached eighty-seven.
"What does it say?" asked Ruby, flicking her long hair back out of her face. Belle frowned, jabbing at a rune at the top of the page.
"I can't tell if that means 'hide' or 'protect'," she said, frustrated.
"Well, both are good, aren't they?" pointed out Ruby, and Belle shook her head.
"We need to be sure," she insisted. "I need to know I'm doing what he asked. Bring the lamp." She waved impatiently at a table-lamp, and Ruby picked it up as Belle opened the book out flat on the work table. She scanned the text briefly, frowning.
"I don't know enough of this. I need the book to translate runes," she said, irritated. "This is going to take longer than I thought. I'll have to go home." She puffed air through her teeth in annoyance. "Why couldn't he just give me the damn spell?"
Ruby secretly thought that Rumplestiltskin never did anything without a reason, and therefore that there was obviously a purpose to this delay, but she said nothing.
"Why don't you go home and get started on the translation?" she suggested. "I can come over later and see how you're getting on, and then we can do the spell tomorrow."
Belle nodded absently, still poring over the book.
"Hmm. Okay. See you later." She was still reading when Ruby let herself out of the shop.
Thousands of miles away, a cellphone sitting on the leather-covered rear seat of a sleek Jaguar started to ring. A man's hand moved to pick up the phone, wrinkled and slightly liver-spotted, the wrist disappearing into a crisp white shirt cuff below the pale grey of a suit sleeve. Long, pale fingers curled around the phone, the thumb swiping across its touchscreen to answer the call.
"Yes?" said the man quietly.
"They set off the trigger," the female voice at the other end said.
"Really? And what was the outcome?" It was a very English voice, cultured. The sort of voice that, a century earlier, would have presided over one of England's larger estates.
"Something appears to have happened. It didn't work."
"And the agents?"
"No word from them since."
Fingers drummed on the leather seat. "How soon could you be in place?"
"The agents provided the coordinates as instructed," the woman said confidently. "I can have our people there tomorrow."
"Do so. Reconnaissance only at the moment. Do not reveal yourselves until I give the order."
"Yes, sir."
Ruby knocked at Gold's door four times before Belle came to answer it, the red spellbook under her arm, a vague expression on her face and dust on her nose. Ruby knew that look; Belle had obviously been reading for the four hours since the two had parted, and by the look of things had had to dig around to get the books she wanted.
"The meeting at the town hall's in half an hour," said Ruby, as she slipped through the door and followed Belle into the lounge. Books were piled on the sofa, with more on the floor. "I thought we could go and see what's decided, and I'll help you translate the spell afterwards, if you like." She grinned self-deprecatingly. "Even if I just bring you coffee and make supportive noises from the side of the room."
Belle smiled gratefully, putting the book down. "Thanks, Ruby, I'd appreciate some help. I'm so tired I can't think straight." She ran her hands over her face distractedly. "I'm about three-quarters of the way through. It's pretty slow going." She flipped the book shut. "I've found loads of interesting stuff, though. Did you know there are hundreds of different healing spells? It's not all dark stuff, there's loads that could really help people buried in these old books. Maybe when I get a chance…" She trailed off, looking over the pile of books, distracted once more.
"Well, you should let it go for now," declared Ruby, wiping the dust from her nose and taking her hand. "Come on, let's go and listen to Leroy trying to keep the townsfolk in order."
Giggling, Belle grabbed her coat and tucked her arm through her friend's as she left the house.
"Okay, shut up everyone!" bawled Leroy, as the noise level in the town hall surged. There was silence as the townsfolk turned to look at him, and he grunted. Belle, Ruby, Granny, Archie and Mother Superior behind a table on the stage, facing outwards at the Storybrookers seated in neat rows. Leroy sat back down next to Archie.
"Where's Snow White?" called someone.
"Where the hell's Regina?" asked someone else, and Leroy held up a hand.
"Snow White and Prince Charming, along with Regina, Gold, Emma and Hook, have gone to another realm," he began. A worried buzz started up. "Henry was kidnapped and taken there first," he continued. "They've gone after him. We don't know when they'll be back, but believe me, they will be back."
Belle nodded, more to remind herself of this fact than to reassure the townsfolk.
"So, this is what we need to decide," said Mother Superior. The hall fell silent as she spoke, and she looked from left to right over the sea of faces, smiling slightly, calming them. "We have no Mayor and no sheriff. We need to decide who is going to run this town in their absence, and how we're going to do it."
"Simple," barked a voice, and Belle recognised the D.A., Spencer. He stood up. "I believe I'm next in seniority. I'll be more than happy to become Mayor."
"Well, you can certainly nominate…" began Mother Superior, but he waved a dismissive hand.
"We don't have the luxury of waiting for an election campaign!" he snapped. "This town needs stability, security. It needs someone with a knowledge of the law and the strength to uphold it. The District Attorney is the obvious choice."
"There are other choices," said Belle calmly, and Spencer sneered at her.
"Are you nominating one of your band of misfits up there?" he demanded sarcastically, and looked around the crowd. "You can't seriously think any of the people in front of us are suitable? A werewolf, a dwarf, a dried-up old woman and the Dark One's child-bride? Please!" His voice was contemptuous. Ruby bristled, and Belle squeezed her hand under the table. "Besides," Spencer continued. "I'm used to ruling as King back in our land. And in the absence of Regina, the shepherd and his usurping whore, I'm the most appropriate ruler for this town."
Leroy growled in fury at his description of Mary Margaret, but Belle shook her head briefly at him.
"It's true, you were indeed the ruler of a kingdom," she agreed. "Wasn't your kingdom bankrupt? Is that how you intend to run Storybrooke?"
There was a ripple of laughter throughout the crowd, and Spencer reddened with anger. Chatter erupted in the hall as the townsfolk argued amongst themselves over who would be an appropriate Mayor. Leroy bent towards Belle.
"I was thinking about nominating you," he whispered. "Now the alternative is Spencer, I'm even more certain that I should." Ruby nodded, but Belle shook her head.
"I think we'd be better with a Council," she said softly. "All of us. That way no one person has all the power. I'm going to have my hands full for the next few days with this spell – the town needs someone it can turn to."
Mother Superior nodded approvingly, and got to her feet. "We have another proposal," she announced, as the crowd quietened. "A Council, containing the six of us. Between us we have experience, magic, insight and strength. Not to mention a strong desire to protect this town and everyone in it." She leant on the table, fixing the crowd with an intense gaze. "This calls for a vote. Make your nominations, and we vote in an hour."
The vote was clear in favour of the Council, and Leroy was also elected acting Sheriff. Belle and Ruby left the others sorting out the details, and trotted back to Gold's house. Ruby put on some coffee while Belle buried herself in the books, and little was said for the next three hours as she completed the translation and double-checked her work. It was after midnight when she stretched and sighed, and accepted a glass of brandy from Ruby gratefully.
"I think we're done," she said tiredly. Ruby looked over her shoulder at the translation.
"So, what do we need?" She picked up the piece of paper. "Unicorn hair, the bark of a cinnamon tree, powdered obsidian, pure wine – what does that mean? – the scales of a chimera…Belle, where are we going to get all of this?"
"The shop," yawned Belle. "Rumple has all of that stuff in the back room – except the wine, anyway."
"I can get that," said Ruby, chewing her lip. "I'll try and get the purest stuff I can."
"Good," Belle drank her brandy with pleasure. "We'll cast the spell at the shop. Are you up for an early start? I thought we'd try tomorrow morning."
"I'm in," said Ruby cheerfully, and clinked her own glass against Belle's.
David, Mary Margaret, Gold and Hook returned to the campsite to find that Emma and Regina were boiling water for tea. Regina had used a small spell to locate fruit trees and there were pears and apples to eat with the bread and dried meat Hook had brought from the ship. They looked up with obvious relief as the others returned.
"We got a mirror," announced David, holding it up.
"This Mirror," added Gold, the capital letter clear in his voice, "is a way to see whatever we wish. I believe it will only work for a short time on each occasion, but it should be sufficient for our purposes."
"So, this shows you whatever you want?" asked Emma, intrigued. "How does it work?"
"Hold an image of whatever it is you want to see in your mind," explained Gold, "and instruct the Mirror to show you."
"I think later on I'll picture you getting undressed, Emma," called Hook. He grinned widely as he lounged by the fire. "That's definitely something I want to see!"
Emma curled her lip at him. "Yeah, well, I hope you have a good imagination," she said flatly, and Gold smiled.
"If it makes you more comfortable, Miss Swan, let me know when you plan to change, and I'll simply remove his eyeballs," he said easily, with an elaborate gesture.
The smile was wiped from Hook's face and he looked suddenly wary. Emma bit her lip in amusement before turning back to Gold.
"So, I just think of Henry, and ask it to show me where he is?" she asked.
"Not exactly." Gold drew a knife from his inside pocket. "Firstly, it requires payment."
Emma looked wary. "Blood?"
He showed his teeth. "Naturally."
She hesitated, then held out her hand so he could draw the knife across her palm. She flinched, drops of deep red falling onto the flat glass of the Mirror and being immediately absorbed, as though the surface were water. Gold made the knife disappear and held up the Mirror.
"Now," he said quietly. "Picture Henry, and ask your question."
A/N Hmm, so, what do you think? I know there have been some hints of Gold becoming Rumple in Neverland, but for what I've got planned for him, it works better as Gold. Like I said, slightly AU.
Next time, Ruby and Belle try to cast the spell, Emma and Hook have a confrontation, and we get a glimpse of Henry.